Update on COVID-19 vaccine prioritization for Canadians living with cystic fibrosis
Update on COVID-19 vaccine prioritization for Canadians living with cystic fibrosis
In December of 2020, Dr. John Wallenburg, Chief Scientific Officer at Cystic Fibrosis Canada sent a letter to provincial Health Ministers urging provinces to prioritize Canadians living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their caregivers, as they determine priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccination. Dr. Wallenburg stressed that given the already heavy health burden on Canadians living with CF, it is necessary to shelter them from any additional risks that could be caused by SaRS-CoV2 infection.
In January of 2021, Cystic Fibrosis Canada received confirmation from the Ontario Government that Ontarians living with cystic fibrosis will be prioritized for Phase Two roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine, starting in March 2021.
Cystic Fibrosis Canada has also received confirmation that British Columbians living with cystic fibrosis are considered part of the clinically extremely vulnerable population list and will be prioritized for Phase Three roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine, starting in April 2021.
CF Canada is urging other provinces to follow suit and is reaching out to provincial governments again to stress that people living with cystic fibrosis deserve early protection. We will also continue to work with cystic fibrosis clinicians to identify the best course forward.
On January 22, 2021, CF Canada joined forces with The Canadian Thoracic Society and other members of its COVID-19 Respiratory Roundtable, which represents and works closely with Canadians living with lung disease and issued a joint statement. The statement asks federal, provincial, and territorial governments to prioritize people living with lung disease who are at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 complications in the vaccination rollout.
To ensure the community has an opportunity to speak to experts about the COVID-19 vaccine, CF Canada is hosting an Ask the Expert series webinar on February 2, 2021. Hosted by Jeff Beach, Chief, Corporate Services & Strategic Initiatives at Cystic Fibrosis Canada, experts include:
- Larry Lands, CF Physician at McGill University Health Centre
- Anne Pham-Huy, Chair of Immunize Canada
- Valerie Waters, CF Physician, SickKids Hospital
- John Wallenburg, Chief Scientific Officer, Cystic Fibrosis Canada
A French Ask the Experts webinar on COVID-19 vaccines will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
For updates about the COVID-19 vaccination, please visit our website. For information about the webinar or for a link to the recording or to watch previous sessions, please visit the Ask the Experts webinar page.
