In a bid to ensure individuals from hot-spot communities get access to the coronavirus vaccine, the Ontario government is working with public health units, business groups and large employers to explore setting up employer-operated, onsite vaccination clinics, noted a press release.
“Partnering with communities to deliver the vaccine is critical to reducing the impact of COVID-19 quickly, and we are working to mobilize every available channel for vaccine delivery to protect individuals and stop the spread of the virus,” said Christine Elliott, deputy premier and minister of health, in the release.
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The clinics would be set up, operated and funded by participating employers within hot-spot areas and will vaccinate employees aged 18 and over, as well as members of local and neighbouring communities, said the release, noting this capacity will supplement publicly run vaccination clinics.
According to the release, employers interested in hosting an onsite clinic must be located within an identified hot-spot community that has had a previous coronavirus outbreak or is at risk of an outbreak. As well, the release stated onsite clinics must vaccinate employees who reside in hot-spot areas and can’t work at home, as well as those in the local community — either at the onsite clinic or at an alternative location in consultation with the local public health unit.
However, the release noted interested employers would also be responsible for setting up, operating and funding the onsite vaccination clinic or any off-site community clinics it’s sponsoring. And all employer-operated onsite clinics must have the support of local public health units and hospitals so as to keep the program consistent with local plans.
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