Ontario Accelerates Second-Dose Eligibility for Ages 12-17

As Ontario moves to Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen, the province has accelerated second dose eligibility to anyone aged 12 to 17 beginning Monday according to a press release on Friday.

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Bookings for the Pfizer vaccine can be done through the provincial booking system, directly through public health units that use their own booking system and through participating pharmacies.

“As the province enters Step Two of our Roadmap, all eligible Ontarians have the opportunity for a two-dose summer,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Vaccines are the best defence against COVID-19 and variants and I encourage everyone to get their first and second shots as soon as possible.”

During the week of June 21, the province administered more than one million doses in four days which has been ahead of schedule of expanding eligibility. To date, the province’s public health units, mass vaccination clinics, hospital sites, pharmacies and primary care providers have administered over 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with more than 77 per cent of adult Ontarians having received their first dose and more than 42 per cent fully immunized.

“Expanding the eligibility for accelerated second doses to include youth aged 12 to 17 is another positive step in the rollout of vaccines across Ontario,” said Sylvia Jones, solicitor general. “With the continued support of our public health partners, we are on track to significantly increase the number of Ontarians who will be fully immunized this summer, helping to protect themselves and their community.”

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Fleming College Requires Student COVID-19 Vaccinations For Residence Living In Fall

Fleming College requires students in residence to have at least their first COVID-19 vaccine for the fall semester stated in a press release on Friday.

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The campus mandatory vaccine policy claims it is based on scientific data and supported by Peterborough Public Health (PPH).

“The pandemic continues to be an evolving situation, and we have always emphasized that safety is everyone’s responsibility at Fleming,” said Maureen Adamson, Fleming President. ”The vaccination requirement for those in residence will provide peace of mind to students and their families.”

The school recommends that residence students get the vaccine two weeks prior to their move-in date. Those unable to receive their first dose before moving in will have 14 days to get vaccinated. Fleming will provide support to students who require first and second doses and is working closely with PPH to coordinate access to vaccines.

The vaccine requirement applies only to the college-owned residences on campus and not the entire campus or to those living off-campus. Alternative off-campus housing is available with assistance and resources through Fleming’s off-campus housing services.

Safety measures such as masking and reduced capacity limits in shared spaces and enhanced cleaning and sanitation of all areas are in addition to the mandatory vaccine policy.

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Ontario Invests $4.5 Million to Support Peterborough Regional Health Centre

Peterborough Regional Health Centre will receive $4,525,000 to support ongoing operational needs and support specific services after a Zoom meeting Wednesday.

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MPP Dave Smith and PRHC senior executives were in attendance to make the funding announcement.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, our focus continues to be on addressing hallway health care. Increasing operational budgets and strategic investments continue to accompany our transformational reforms to how we deliver health care in Ontario,” said Smith. “One person receiving health care in a hallway is one too many. We will move forward with our efforts to end hallway medicine by putting the patient at the centre of care.”

The 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy, outlined a total of $1.8 billion in additional investments for hospitals in 2021-22. This includes an increase of $778 million in operating funding to meet current and future demands for services.

Additional support for hospitals as part of Ontario’s Action Plan includes $760 million to help hospitals continue to respond to COVID 19 and an additional $300 million to reduce surgical backlogs.

“This investment will provide much-needed support to PRHC in its dual role as a community hospital and a regional hub for a growing number of patients in the surrounding communities,” said Brenda Weir, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at PRHC. “As Ontario’s healthcare sector continues to face challenging and uncertain times in the months and years ahead, ongoing provincial support will be critical to ensuring we are positioned for continued success as we provide excellent care for the patients and families we serve.”

Through the 2021-22 hospital allocations, the government will provide each hospital with increases to their operating budgets as well as targeted funding towards key priorities. Initiatives include:

• Funding to recognize growth in the hospital sector as well as targeted funding towards key ministry priorities

• Additional funding for priority services in eligible hospitals to cover increasing volumes related to cancer, renal, cardiac, neuro-services, and stroke, as well as hip and knee surgeries and MRI scans

• Funding to Ontario Health-Cancer Care Ontario for cancer and renal treatment services in hospitals.

• Funding to eight hospitals to support lease costs associated with off-site dialysis units and align funding responsibility for all community-based off-site dialysis units.

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Trent University Requires First Vaccine For Students In Residence Living

Trent University has announced students living on campus in residence this fall will be required to have at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine according to a press release issued Tuesday.

Trent University in Peterborough is divided into five separate colleges: Lady Eaton, Gzowski, Champlain, Otonabee and Traill. File Photo.

“The University is committed to keeping our residences and communities safe as we plan to return to in-person terms this September,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent president and vice-chancellor. “Requiring vaccines for students living in residence will be an important way to ensure that we avoid residence outbreaks and are able to offer our residence students the transformative on-campus experiences students have learned to expect from Trent.”

With the support from Peterborough Public Health, the University will ask students to book and arrange their first-dose vaccine prior to moving into residences at both the Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses.

The University’s Housing Services will help students who are unable to receive a vaccine prior to arrival attain their first dose when they move into the residence. Residence students will also be asked to commit to a second dose of the vaccine on a schedule that will be subject to availability. Exemptions will be allowed in cases in which students require accommodation for medical or other reasons. 

Mandating vaccines for all residence students will safely allow for near-full occupancy of residences on both Trent campuses according to the release. As an added precaution, the University also plans to reserve a small number of residence spaces for isolation, if needed.

 “We know living in residence can be a valuable part of the first-year student experience at Trent,” says Dr. Nona Robinson, Trent associate vice president of Students. “We also know the health and safety of our campus and local communities is our shared responsibility. Congregate living areas, such as residences, are at higher risk for transmission due to people living closely together. We are delighted that vaccines are now available for the age group of most of our first-year students. This vaccine requirement will help minimize risk, as we offer a positive residence experience for new students this fall.”  

The vaccine requirement for residence students will be part of a wide range of the University’s COVID-19 health and safety measures to ensure a safe return to in-person learning on campus.

Other measures may include masking, physical distancing requirements and mandatory self-screening, as well as enhanced cleaning. On-campus testing, as well as vaccine clinics for students and employees in Peterborough, may also be implemented based on the recent success of pop-up clinics.

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Omemee Woman Gives Open Invite for Heart Health Awareness Fundraiser With Physical Activities

What started as a personal goal has developed into a worldwide movement and fundraiser for Annie Smith with the 3rd annual Annie's Pace Global Adventure (APGA) in a four-day event starting Friday.

Photo Courtesy of Annie Smith.

The event’s purpose is to raise heart health awareness, test people’s physical limits and promote activity with the motto, “Your heart is worth an hour a day.” Anyone is encouraged to do anything that gets them moving such as sports, walks or even as simple as gardening.

“Moving the body is number one,” said Smith.

Smith was diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis in 2016; an invisible, rare, incurable and life-threatening disease. Since the diagnosis, her physical capabilities have become limited.

Merchandise such as t-shirts and wristbands were made in past events. T-shirts have sold out but wristbands still remain available by contacting Smith. Photo Courtesy of Annie Smith.

Her campaign encourages others to post their heart stories and/or weekend activities on Smith’s Facebook or Instagram page while tagging themselves during the event.

Smith trekked 161 kilometres in 2019 through four days and 180 kilometres in 2020. This year, she will go an abridged distance on a treadmill due to her physical capabilities for Friday, Sunday and Monday. She will do a 26-kilometre walk with two friends starting from Jackson’s Park to Reaboro on Saturday.

“I don’t want it to be about me, I want it to be able to be about the people and bringing that awareness,” said Smith. “I want the world to unite for four days for heart disease awareness.”

Her inspiration came from her cardiologist Dr. Heather Ross who raised almost $1 million with Test Your Limits. She began APGA to aid in that goal for heart disease and heart failure research. Smith wants to raise $16,000 through three years where she already raised $10,875 in the first two ($5,500 in 2019 and $5,375 in 2020).

Not only has Canada partaken in the event, but it has also gained worldwide recognition including reaching countries as far as Hong Kong, Scotland, Greece, USA, Switzerland and Australia.

“I was crying the first day I started,” said Smith. I woke up and saw Hong Kong that already sent their video. It blew my mind. It was so much fun for me seeing them all doing it.”

Donations are accepted online or at Sunset Grill in Peterborough from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Ontario Government Releases Provincial Reopening Plan With Eased Outdoor Restrictions For Victoria Day Weekend

The Government of Ontario has lifted outdoor activity restrictions for the Victoria Day weekend and a “road map to reopen” in a press conference at Queen’s Park held on Thursday.

Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health were present to discuss the province’s reopening plan.

On Saturday, outdoor recreational amenities can reopen such as golf course and tennis courts to safely celebrate the Victoria Day long weekend said Elliott.

Outdoor gathering limits have been expanded to five people. The government urges the province to continue following health guidelines and get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The road map to reopen is the proposed way out of the pandemic and a clear path forward to carefully and safely reopen in a three-step plan according to Elliott.

• Step one: Initial focus on resuming small-crowd outdoor activities including pools, splash pads, fitness classes, zoos and religious services. Retail stores can be open with restrictions.

  • Outdoor gatherings can be up to 10 people.

  • Outdoor dining up to four people per table.

  • Non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity.

• Step two: Further expands outdoor activities and continue limited indoor services with face coverings worn.

  • Outdoor gatherings of 25 people

  • Outdoors sports and leagues permitted

  • Non-essential retail open up at 25 per cent capacity

  • Public libraries and personal care services where face coverings can be worn and with capacity limits

• Step three: Expand access to indoor settings with restrictions including large numbers of people and where face coverings cannot always be worn. This includes but not limited to gyms, cinemas, performing arts facilities, indoor dining and museums with capacity limits.

The province plans to be in step one around the week of June 14 and will be in each step for at least 21 days. The three weeks allow time to evaluate the impacts and determine if Ontario can move to the next step.

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Fleming Students Receive Certification to Give COVID-19 Vaccines

Twenty-six Fleming College students of the pharmacy technician program have been approved to help local pharmacies load and administer COVID-19 vaccines in Peterborough.

Photo Courtesy of Fleming College.

The Ontario College of Pharmacists issued the Emergency Assignment Registration for all pharmacy students in the province to gain certification to temporarily load and give vaccines. The emergency certification is for 60 days but is open to being extended as needed. The opportunity came after the Canadian government recognized a shortage in vaccine administers.

The second-year students received the opportunity as their practical exams as a pleasant surprise when they found out back in early March. It was a different format from what was originally planned.

“I wanted to change their practical exams on this,” said Amanda Mushynski, pharmacy technician program coordinator. “It would qualify them to give vaccines and they were ecstatic. The students jumped on it.”

Photo Courtesy of Fleming College.

Students would be dispatched to local pharmacies, public health units or mobile vaccination sites to administer the doses.

Helping these locations is a big load off pharmacists’ shoulders according to Mushynski.

“They’re trying to do their regular jobs as well as administer vaccines,” she said. “Our students can go into the pharmacies and do the injections. Some of the local pharmacies don’t have the manpower, they might hesitate but now they have a pool to choose from.”

Photo Courtesy of Fleming College.

Students are currently waiting on final confirmation from the college before getting the green light to give the vaccines during this article’s publication.

This unexpected yet positive news for the students is a rare opportunity that they took advantage of and can put them over the top says Mushynski.

Photo Courtesy of Fleming College.

“I’m so very proud of what we’ve done in the program and giving vaccines,” she exclaimed. “Flipping from face-to-face to learning online, learning from home and studying themselves. This is a group of phenomenal students. Their reward is to be able to give back.”

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Ontario Government Extends Shutdown For Another Two Weeks

The shutdown has been extended for another two weeks until June 2 announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a public address at Queen’s Park announced on Thursday.

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The shutdown is to help combat the overflowing ICU numbers that remain in hospitals and to have “the most normal July and August possible.”

The stay-at-home-order started back on Apr. 3 has been extended by a full month since the original declaration. The shutdown was set to expire on May 20.

Ford was accompanied by Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones and Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

During the shutdown, daily cases have gone down from 4,000 to 2,750 but the goal is less than 1000 for several days before considering looser restrictions according to Williams.

“Everybody thinks that’s great from where we came from, and that’s true but we still have a ways to get back down because we didn’t get all the way out of the second before we went into the third wave,” explained Williams. “We do not want to repeat that again.”

Starting May 31, youth aged 12 to 17 and their family members who have not received a vaccine will be able to book an appointment for the Pfizer vaccine.

Publicly funded and private elementary and secondary schools will continue remote learning.

Sports and outdoor recreational activities will remain closed. Ford agrees that golfing is not the issue but it is the post-golfing gatherings that are a concern.

“There’s nothing wrong with golfing, the problem is the mobility,” he said. “Then after golf, they go back, they have a few pops. That’s the problem.”

As of Thursday, 6.6 million residents have had vaccinated with at least the first dose with over 407,000 receiving their second dose.

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