December 8, 2020 - Question Period — Health: COVID -19 Vaccine Rollout

Hon. Rosemary Moodie:

 
Honourable senators, this question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
 
Senator Gold, I wanted to ask you a question about the vaccine rollout. The federal government has not been clear around who will get the vaccine and when. This has raised criticism for the lack of specific details of a well-defined plan. Senator, this criticism is particularly focused on areas that designated planners do have the ability to exercise some degree of control over. In saying so, I want to acknowledge that there will be specific circumstances that fall outside of the complete control of government.
 
Senator, I attended a briefing yesterday with senior public health representatives, planners and government representatives that was often vague, made reference to hypothetical situations and lacked clarity and detail. When the government says, for example, that it’s prioritizing health care workers who have direct contact with patients, are we including all physicians and nurses, PSWs and support staff who work in both hospital settings, as well as in community medical settings, doctors’ offices, clinics, health care centres and long-term facilities, all of whom have direct contact with patients?
 
Has the government reached a firm agreement with the provinces about who is included in this category and in others so that Canadians can be clear about what they can and should expect?
 
 

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate):

 
Thank you for your question, senator. Obviously, all Canadians are focused on the development and rollout of the vaccine program. Yesterday was a pretty good day, and there was good news for Canada with the announcement that we are receiving up to 249,000 doses of a vaccine from Pfizer, part of a potential 76 million doses in the contract with Pfizer.
 
Thank you for mentioning the negotiations and discussions that are ongoing between the federal government and its provincial counterparts. As you well know, health is an exclusively provincial jurisdiction. The federal government is doing its part and has done its part to enter into contracts for hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines, many of which are proving promising, far more than we expect will be needed to vaccinate each and every Canadian. It has also worked with the provinces and territories to develop the logistical plan for the delivery. Once the vaccines are delivered, it is the provinces’ responsibility to decide where they are to go first. Though discussions continue in an attempt to find common ground as to what that is, as I have said in this chamber before, it remains a matter for the provinces — and properly so — to manage. In my home province, for example, two long-term care homes have been identified, one in Montreal and one in Laval, because it’s the province and the regional health authorities who are in the best position to know where the needs are greatest.
 
Over time, as more vaccines come to Canada and are distributed throughout this country, I’m sure Canadians from all walks of life and in all aspects of the health care profession will receive their vaccines.
 

Senator Moodie: 

 
Senator Gold, there are a lot of questions around the order in which people will get the COVID-19 vaccine. I would like to focus on the individuals who are under the direct purview of the federal government. I want to specifically ask about immigrants and refugees in Canada, especially those who are under federal detention.
 
My question is very simple: When will these individuals who are in precarious settings and under the direct purview of the federal government get their vaccines?
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