Nipissing’s MPP is taking issue with the federal government’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“They really have to step this up,” said Vic Fedeli. “We’re now vaccinating 40,000 people a day but in reality, we can do 150,000 a day. But it’s a lack of a steady supply of vaccines that are holding Ontario back.”
The Canadian government has approved four vaccines for use: Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and most recently, Johnson & Johnson.
Fedeli says the province received an AstraZeneca shipment that was set to expire this month, leading to doses being administered in pharmacies as a pilot project. He adds his government has yet to receive any information regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccines approved on March 5.
As of Monday, over 1.1 million people in Ontario have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with over 287,000 people fully vaccinated.
Nationally, just under 3 million people have received a vaccine dose.
“We continue to push hard. I know the medical officer of health continues to tell the government that we need more vaccines,” Fedeli added.
Fedeli says the province has seen fewer cases in long-term care residents as a result of the vaccinations.
“We’re seeing cases among the staff are down sharply, our active outbreaks are down and our deaths are down […] We know the results of these vaccines so yeah, we need them in Ontario and we need them here in Nipissing as well,” said Fedeli.
Ontario’s government has pledged to offer every adult in the province at least one vaccine dose by June 30, which Fedeli says will only be possible if there are enough shots to give out.
“Everything is contingent on this vaccine supply,” he finished.
