Hamilton pausing initial COVID-19 vaccinations for those outside long-term care

Hamilton will be pausing initial COVID-19 vaccinations for those outside long-term care and high-risk retirement homes until March.

The direction comes from the provincial government and is due to a supply issue with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

But the city has been told to hold back on administering the Moderna vaccine as well.

Vaccinations will continue for residents, staff and essential caregivers in long-term care and certain retirement homes. People who have already received their first dose of the vaccine will be able to get their second shot.

In a statement, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger called the news “extremely frustrating.”

“Hamilton has administered over 10,000 vaccinations to-date and with the rising number of people testing positive for the virus in our community, it is imperative we complete the two-dose vaccination program for our most vulnerable populations,” he said.

“Now, it is up to each of us to do everything it takes to stop the spread of this virus and continue to follow public health advice. We cannot let this set-back take us all off course or lose focus. We can and will get through this together.”

Hamilton’s mobile vaccination clinic has administered vaccines to over a dozen long-term care homes, including Idylewyld Manor, St. Peter’s Residence, Hamilton Continuing Care, Macassa Lodge, Shalom Village, The Village at Wentworth Heights and Grace Villa.

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The city says the delay is temporary and have heard from the province that Pfizer expects to be able to send enough vaccine to restart vaccinations outside these facilities by March.