Ontario Shuns Visitors and Accelerates COVID-19 Vaccinations

The Ontario government announced on January 25, 2021, it is accelerating the vaccination of residents in long-term care, high-risk retirement, and First Nations elder care homes by a new target date of February 5, 2021.

And to protect access to second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine for those who have already received their first dose, Ontario will maintain the maximum interval of 21-27 days for long-term care, retirement, and First Nations elder care home resident groups and up to 42 days between the two doses for all other groups.

As of January 26th, Ontario reported 83,285 total vaccinations completed. And 5,909 COVID-19 related fatalities have been confirmed during the pandemic.

Following notification by the Canadian federal government of reductions in Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shipments, these vaccination adjustments are being made.

Various media sources reported that Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on the federal government to increase restrictions for anyone looking to travel into Canada.

“Close down any travel coming into Canada, outside of residents of Canada or citizens of Canada,” Ford said at a press conference on January 26, 2021. “There’s no reason we need people coming in.”