Regional Council - Special Meeting

WHEREAS At a Special Meeting of Regional Council, held Thursday, April 15, 2021, York Regional Council passed a motion calling on the Government of Ontario to increase the supply of vaccines for the ‘hot spot’ areas of York Region to ensure consistency and equity in vaccine distribution throughout the Greater Toronto Area; and WHEREAS York Region is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases; and, WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has identified 114 high priority communities or “hot spots” based on postal codes, including 13 hot spots in The Regional Municipality of York; and, WHEREAS based on local epidemiological data, York Region has identified an additional three hot spot communities; and WHEREAS York Region has been forced to prioritize six of these 16 hot spots due to lack of vaccine supply; and, WHEREAS York Region has had to temporarily close vaccination clinics and adjust clinic hours due to a lack of supply; and, WHEREAS the Government of Ontario indicated that York Region will experience a further significant reduction in vaccine supply in the coming weeks; and WHEREAS with additional vaccine, York Region can expand fully to protect the remaining nine of 16 identified ‘hot spot’ areas, including residents and essential workers such as those working in manufacturing plants and educators; and WHEREAS other health units in the Province, including the City of Toronto and Region of Peel, appear to have vaccine supply to enable them to immunize persons in their hot s