Canadian government injects funds to bolster fight against COVID-19 across Canada

CANADA – The Canadian government has disbursed funds to support vaccination efforts across Canada through the Immunization Partnership fund (IFP) as more Canadians are getting the jab against COVID-19.

The IPF supports projects that improve access to vaccines and encourage vaccine uptake and is one of several programs by the Government of Canada working with communities to increase vaccine confidence and address barriers to getting vaccinated.

These three new projects under the IPF are set to provide health care givers with the tools, training, and evidence-based information they need to promote and counsel others on the importance of COVID-19 vaccines.

In 2020, as a response to Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts and building on the early momentum of the IPF, the Government of Canada invested an additional $64 million for projects to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Canada.

This year’s fund disbursement will see the project involve various relevant authorities in ensuring the vaccination drive across Canada is widespread.

The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will receive funding to develop and implement educational outreach sessions and resources for non-Indigenous health care providers so they can better promote vaccine uptake among indigenous clients and their families in a culturally safe and trauma-informed way.

University Health Network will receive funding to develop COVID-19 vaccine education initiatives specifically for personal support workers that will build their confidence in vaccines and their capacity to effectively counsel and support their colleagues, communities, and patients to make informed COVID-19 vaccine choices.

Women’s College Hospital will receive funding to educate and build the capacity of non-physician health care practitioners and other essential workers in long-term care facilities and home care settings as vaccinators and vaccine promoters.

Currently, a total of 10,997,689 doses have been disbursed in Canada as the state is also expecting an extra 203,580 doses of Pfizer this week.

The state on Monday recorded 49 new cases of corona virus infections bringing the total number of infections to 375,195 with 1 new death case bringing the death toll to 11,218. On a lighter note, 363,245 people have recovered.

Despite the mitigative measure taken, the government is still urging people to follow basic preventive measures such as hand washing, physical distancing, wearing a face covering and following the instructions set across different regions of the country.