May 2021
What began in a laboratory as a shot in the dark has miraculously been converted into life saving shots into arms, all around the world.
The development of safe and effective vaccines to combat COVID-19 represents the most amazing and important scientific breakthrough of our time. The vaccines also create a foundation for hope that a return to normal for all of us is possible, and may very well be on the horizon.
Across Canada, the vaccine rollout has at times seemed slow and sporadic. There have been supply issues, shipments promised that were delayed or weren’t delivered in full, and frustrating logistical challenges. But through extraordinary effort and organization, 40 percent of Ontario’s adult population has now received at least one dose of vaccine. Ramping up, the Region of Halton deserves credit for developing the capacity to book 7,200 vaccine appointments a day, assuming consistent and steady supply.
As the supply of vaccines continues to improve, the administration of the vaccines will continue to accelerate. In consultation with public health, those who need them the most got them first, and we are nearing the point where all adults can register for their shot.
COVID-19 vaccines do not cause a coronavirus infection. Instead, they serve to strengthen your immune system, enabling you to better fight off the infection if you encounter it.
It bears repeating: The best vaccine is the one you can get, as soon as you can, when it’s your turn.
Pfizer-Biotech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines have all been approved by Health Canada. We can have firm confidence that these vaccines are safe and effective, and will provide good protection against COVID-19.
To the extent we all continue to listen to the public health advice we now know so well, the pandemic will end sooner. And to the extent we roll up our sleeves to be vaccinated, we are saying “yes” to getting our lives back again and, as with wearing a mask, doing our part to keep ourselves and others safe.
For more information on vaccine bookings in our community, you can visit: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/New-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccines
