From February 28 to 29th, Dr. Anna Holland, Dr. Sandy Tecimer and I worked on a practical model to roll out COVID-19 vaccines through existing programs in family physician offices, nurse practitioner led clinics and pharmacies alongside the large vaccination centers through Public Health.

The goal: vaccinate 10,500,000 people across Ontario in a way that is accessible, equitable, effective and efficient.

The three of us are worried. The large vaccination centers are going to help a lot of people. But they will also miss some people. Using the already existing vaccine programs in family physician offices, nurse practitioner led clinics and pharmacies will create a second layer of protection — a safety net so that people have options that may work better for their circumstances.

What kind of people may be missed by large vaccination centers?

• The 30 year old Caucasian man with autism whose 60 year old parents are his primary caregivers and decision-makers.

• The 54 year old wheelchair-bound South Asian woman who has quadriplegia and whose husband is her primary caregiver.

• The 19 year old black patient with bipolar disease who is couch-surfing until they can afford their own place.

• The 80 year old housebound patient with dementia and other chronic illnesses who is completely reliant for activities of daily living on her 59 year old daughter. 

• The 28 year old pregnant black woman working in a grocery store  in Thorncliffe Park.

• The 85 year old patient with Parkinon’s Disease and history of falls who feels unsafe leaving his house and is completely dependent on his son’s family for at-home caregiving. 

• The 67 year old woman who has a history of opioid use disorder, who does not have a regular primary care provider, but does regularly see the family doctor who is her addictions medicine physician.

• People, patients, caregivers and healthcare workers alike, living in a major urban area who would require navigating multiple routes using public transportation to get to a mass vaccination center.

• People in high-risk congregate living situations who require catch-up vaccines who were temporarily ineligible for the COVID vaccine when mobile teams were scheduled for them.

This is why we created an all hands on deck approach to COVID-19 vaccinations to complement what is already in the works. We can do more. So why not do more?

Download and read the detailed report here.

Sign in support of the program here. This is open to any one — provider, patient, administrator, anyone. It helps us gauge the response.

Last of all, send us your feedback!