LEAD: NATIONAL DAY OF OBSERVANCE TO COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID-19

Today has been designated a national day of observance to commemorate those whose lives have been claimed by COVID-19. As of this morning, Canada has seen 22,335 deaths related to the virus and, of those, 7,099 were in Ontario. Today also marks one year since the World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a global pandemic.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Cathy Parkes whose father passed away at Orchard Villa last April and Jane Meadus, staff lawyer and the institutional advocate at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) followed by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.

SEGMENT 2: PHARMACY VACCINE PILOT & SOME FAMILY DOCTORS TO ADMINISTER VACCINES BY THE WEEKEND

This week marks another major milestone-a much more positive one. And that is that a number of pharmacies have been partaking in a COVID-19 vaccine pilot program targeting the 60-64 age group. John details the success he’s been having at his own pharmacies and the very long lineup of people eagerly awaiting their shot. We’ve also learned that family doctors who have received vaccine supply will begin administering to patients by the weekend. Dr. Gandhi tells us that there are 400 doses for a team of 50 doctors in Georgian Bay and while the supply numbers are meager, he says that “it’s a start!”

Libby Znaimer is joined by Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist John Papastergiou and Dr. Sohail Gandhi, a family physician in Georgian Bay and past president of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA).