The vaccination exercise resumes in full swing in Baie-des-Chaleurs. As a priority, we will vaccinate residents of CHSLDs who arrived in establishments after the first vaccination period, RPAs, caregivers, medical staff and, ultimately, people 90 years of age and over … In addition, the CISSS takes the great means by requisitioning the cultural center of Maria.
While some regions of Quebec are showing delays in vaccination against COVID-19, the Gaspé is in the top of the class, says the Director of Public Health, Doctor Yv Bonnier-Viger:
“In fact, we are ahead … precisely because when they send us vaccines, the batches that are sent to us are quite considerable given our population.”
Baie-des-Chaleurs will receive 975 doses of Pfizer vaccines… and because each vial can vaccinate a little more than 5 people… in fact, we could vaccinate more than 1100 citizens. On the other hand, it will be necessary to wait before receiving other doses.
“It is very likely that we will receive very few in the next two weeks because they will then concentrate in the regions which have not succeeded in getting around these priorities.”, Summarizes Mr. Bonnier-Viger.
On the other hand, the pace could increase in a few weeks explains Jean Morin, assistant to the CEO of the CISSS and responsible for media relations.
“I can tell you that what we hope is that from mid-March, there will be a constant turnover of vaccines.”
With the next vaccination of the general population, the CISSS has therefore set up a vaccination center in Maria, at the local community center. Chosen for its size, ventilation and parking, the vaccination center will first welcome the first target groups… and it will go quickly. Harris Cloutier, director of technical services at the CISSS de la Gaspésie, summarizes:
“The registration is 5 minutes, 5 minutes for the evaluation… vaccination, normally, it lasts 5 minutes also… and the post vaccination it is 15 minutes. In all, on average, it plays within about 30 minutes. “
Appointments are scheduled every 5 minutes and about fifty employees work there … As for the costs of such an operation? Mr. Cloutier remains vague:
“I would tell you that this is a number to be determined eventually. All the panels, the layout of the panels… these are panels that you can’t find at the local hardware store! They are really anti bacterial panels. ”
Cases are on the decline in the region, but Public Health reminds us that we must be careful. There is also the word “variants” which comes up often. Yv Bonnier-Viger wants to be reassuring:
“That said, the virus may mutate in such a way that a vaccine becomes less effective or ineffective. In which case, the vaccine manufacturers will certainly tackle the issue and offer us vaccine variants. ”
But for the moment no variant has appeared in Eastern Quebec … the promised vaccines will reach Maria in the coming hours. Jean Morin goes with an image that sums up the situation well:
“What we lack is that the vaccines can arrive as quickly as possible. I can tell you: there is a vaccine coming and the same vaccine will immediately go into the arm of a person who is waiting. “
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