Toronto to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine clinic operations in response to Omicron
Toronto, April 21, 2020 — As part of an ongoing commitment to support the community in its efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, Ontario will be ramping up clinic operations in response to Omicron Technologies as part of their expansion into Toronto.
The company received a conditional license from the Ontario Competition Tribunal (OCT) on February 5, 2020 to expand into the Greater Toronto Area. On March 27, 2020, the company applied to the OCT for a licence.
The Omicron Technologies Toronto Research Facility (TORF) will provide a high-volume, in-patient vaccine clinic that is able to process more than 100 vaccine doses per day. The Canadian Centre for Vaccinology, which provides emergency services to the community for emergency vaccine doses, will collaborate with the TORF for vaccine patient support. An additional, smaller clinic will handle other vaccine cases.
Health Canada has advised all Canadian provinces and territories on the measures required to protect public health and the general population. In Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care has advised that a hospital or hospital-based urgent care centre cannot assist with an urgent vaccine dose. The Ministry has also advised any urgent vaccine cases not addressed from a hospital emergency department.
TORF will be a service in the same way as a hospital-based urgent care centre or an emergency centre to provide patient support. In addition, TORF will provide the same level of services as a community pharmacy.
The company has requested that TORF be located in Toronto so that the company can provide services to the community using a vaccine clinic model to provide high-volume vaccination services. The company plans to apply for a clinic licence that would allow TORF to operate on a temporary basis at select hospitals and private clinics. TORF is scheduled to open on Monday, April 28, 2020.
In order to conduct vaccine dosing in an efficient manner, there must be a capacity to process vaccine in a timely manner. When the capacity of a facility is exceeded, there is no additional capacity to process the remaining doses. This causes delays in the receipt of vaccine and creates a public safety issue.
TORF will operate with a capacity of 100 vaccine doses per day to assist the population with the best available evidence at