Diabetes Canada applauds the recent decision by the Ontario government to include people living with diabetes as one of the priority populations in Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan. This comes on the heels of the approval of a third and fourth vaccine for use in Canada, with the accelerate plan from the Ontario government. Ontario is the first province to share their list of medical conditions within their roll-out plans. Specifying the people who will be included in Phase 2 roll-out plan, is welcome news for millions of Ontarians.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, researchers have found that people affected by diabetes are not more likely to become infected with COVID than people without diabetes. However, if they do get COVID, adults living with both type 1 or type 2 diabetes are more likely to have serious symptoms and complications, like pneumonia, and they are more likely to go to the hospital. People living with diabetes are more likely to be sicker and die when they are in hospital, compared with those without diabetes
“The decision will come as a relief to the 1.5 million Ontarians living with diabetes,” says Laura Syron, President and CEO of Diabetes Canada. “It is our hope that all other provinces will follow suit, so all people living with diabetes and other chronic conditions can be vaccinated and avoid the serious complications’ that having diabetes and COVID-19 imposes.”
Diabetes Canada has advocated to all levels of government since December 2020 for early inclusion for those living with diabetes to receive the vaccine.
To learn more, access Ontario’s vaccine distribution plan.