Today marks a major moment for the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) region, as the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is here, and limited vaccinations have begun.

WDG Public Health is the first public health unit in Ontario approved for storage and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Danny Williamson, communication specialist with WDG Public Health said they do a number a vaccination programs in any normal year, so part of their capacity is to be ready for that, but they have ramped up to be ready for today.

“One of the things that Dr. [Nicola] Mercer, [Medical Officer of Health for WDG Public Health] has said, and says quite often is, ‘we absolutely do not want to be the bottleneck here at public health,’” Williamson said. “We want to know that as soon as possible after those vaccine doses get to our region, they’re going into the arms of people that need them.”

Williamson said, “Right now, with the Pfizer vaccine, it has pretty stringent restrictions on storage and transportation, so, all of the early vaccines will be done at the Guelph Public Health location."

He said the Pfizer vaccine is kept frozen in their ultra-low freezer and then they bring it out as they vaccinate.

The ultra-low freezer at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health location in Guelph, that stores the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Photo by: WDG Public Health

As other vaccines become available, or the Pfizer vaccine is able to be moved, the COVID-19 vaccine will be made available at other locations.

Vaccinations will begin with staff at long term care and retirement Homes, in addition to essential caregivers in both settings before moving on to other high-risk healthcare providers.

Williamson said this is great news, and it’s the beginning of the beginning of the end.

“The tunnel is still there, but now we can start to see that light at the end of the tunnel,” Williamson said. “And really this vaccine is the first step as we start to get it and roll it out into moving back into something more normal, and putting the pandemic behind us.”

Williamson said in the first round, WDG Public Health received a little under 1,000 vaccines.

He added that the full vaccination program launches tomorrow (January 5).

Danny Williamson, communication specialist with WDG Public Health: