Healthcare workers in CHSLDs and intermediate resources and family resources (RI-RTF) will be the first individuals in the Montérégie to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting on Dec. 23.
Dr. Julie Loslier, the director of the Direction de Santé Publique de la Montérégie, held a press conference on Dec. 21 to outline the strategy, put in place by a regional governance committee uniting the three CISSS of the Montérégie, to vaccinate up to 4,400 healthcare workers over four days between Dec. 23-27.
The nature of the Pfizer vaccine challenged the committee to find an efficient way to administer several thousand doses to people in under a week. The vaccine is particularly difficult to transport, meaning any vaccination site needs to be able to accommodate a large number of individuals. Loslier explained that different scenarios were explored that involved running vaccination clinics at different CHSLDs, which would have prioritized residents, however there were no CHSLD buildings in the Montérégie with enough available space.
As a result, the committee decided to focus instead on those who work with the most vulnerable populations and who would be able to travel to vaccination sites. The committee then settled on two non-traditional sites able to accommodate upwards of 1,000 individuals per day: the COOP Pavilion at the Société d’Agriculture de Saint-Hyacinthe and the influenza vaccination clinic already established at the Quartier Dix30 in Brossard.
The available vaccine doses will be divided between the three different regions of the Montérégie, with the Montérégie-Est receiving 38 percent, while the Montérégie-Ouest will receive 32 percent and the remaining 30 percent will go to the Montérégie-Centre. Loslier noted that as of Monday afternoon, more than half of the appointments for vaccinations had already been filled. “We hope to vaccinate the residents as soon as possible,” she confirmed, while reiterating that the logistical constraints imposed by the vaccine meant this was not possible just yet.
Montérégie numbers rising quickly
Loslier started the press conference by stating her concern for the growing number of active cases of COVID-19 in the Montérégie. Over the past week, there were, on average, around 275 new cases being diagnosed each day. “The increase is affecting all age groups,” she said, before noting the virus was now freely circulating. “We are hopeful the circulation will slow with the shutdown over the holidays, but this will depend on how well the measures are respected,” she warned.
Between Dec. 14 and 20, there were 30 new cases diagnosed in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, an additional 25 cases in the Jardins-de-Napierville, 46 in Beauharnois-Salaberry, 180 in Vaudreuil-Soulanges and 322 in Roussillon.
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Very informative. Thank you.