News release: April 22, 2021
Hot spot vaccine clinics in workplaces and the community expanding access in Peel
Removing barriers to access and supporting the needs of those hit hardest by COVID-19 through public-private partnership
Brampton, ON. (April 22, 2021) – As Peel nears the milestone of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in our region, Peel’s Community Mass Vaccination Plan is expanding to reach more residents in hot spots. This is critical as Peel continues to have high COVID-19 cases and workplace exposures in Peel continue to be a major contributor to transmission observed in our community.
The vaccination of adults living or working in hot spot communities will begin in select workplaces and community settings in the weeks to come as vaccine supply becomes more available. This is an innovative public-private partnership and will be the first of its kind in Ontario. The lessons learned from this initial roll out will be shared with other regions across the province.
Working with industry partners, who have implemented measures to protect their workers, the Province has selected the following initial workplace partners to run on-site and community vaccination clinics across Peel hot spots. They are:
- Amazon
- Maple Leaf Foods
- Maple Lodge Farms
On-site vaccine clinics in hot spots is an additional opportunity to offer this protection to workers and the Peel community.
Jointly led by the Province and Peel Public Health, selected workplaces will open on-site clinics in hot spot communities to vaccinate their employees. These same workplaces will then operate local community clinics in partnership with the Region of Peel and community organizations, held at community centres, places of worship or other community hubs. Specific details on how to access workplace and community clinics will be shared once operational details are finalized. Employees at workplaces will be contacted directly by their employer.
The provincial criteria for selecting workplaces includes hot spot location, outbreak data, and willingness of the employer to operate and fund an on-site clinic for their employees and a separate clinic for the community. Information on pop-up community clinics will be released once finalized.
The hot spot strategy represents an expansion of Peel’s overall Mass Vaccination Plan that also includes fixed clinics, primary care clinics, pharmacy clinics and mobile community outreach clinics.
We are working in collaboration with over 150 organizations and over 20 community group working tables to roll out the Mass Vaccination Program and Hot Spot strategy within workplace and community sites. These hot spot workplace and community pop-up clinics are a welcome addition to the variety of ways that we are delivering vaccines in arms. We thank the Province for their partnership and support and appreciate the willingness of these leading employers to partner with community agencies to support Peel’s hot spot strategy under the direction of public health.
Dr. Lawrence Loh, Medical Officer of Health, Peel Region.
Our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is supporting these important local employers in their efforts to welcome on-site vaccination clinics that will protect their employees and the community. Ontario is focused on getting vaccines to those most at risk and we are grateful for the partnership of these employers and Peel Public Health in helping make vaccines more accessible.
Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General.
About the Hot Spot Community Strategy
- The Hot Spot Community Strategy has been developed to protect those at higher risk of death, hospitalization and transmission living in high rate communities. Targeted approaches are required to address systemic barriers to access and support the needs of marginalized or vulnerable groups.
- Peel’s COVID-19 vaccination program follows Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination framework. Phase 2 of Ontario's framework prioritizes adults aged 18+ in hot spot communities.
- On April 13, 2021, the Province released “Ontario's COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy Targets High-Risk Neighbourhoods” detailing the criteria for employers interested in hosting an onsite clinics.
- Guidance and advice are provided by the Community Equity and Engagement Advisory Table, representing community organizations/networks, primary care, mental health and addictions, acute care/hospital, a bioethicist and administrative and leadership support from the Region of Peel.
Media contacts
Trish Krale
Communication Specialist
Region of Peel
About Peel Region
Peel Region works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.5 million people and over 175,000 businesses in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the Town of Caledon. Peel's services touch the lives of residents every day. For more information about the Region of Peel, explore peelregion.ca and follow us on Twitter @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
