Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that the government will invest $3.7 million as part of the 2021 Budget to provide transportation for seniors and people with disabilities to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
“It is critically important to ensure that our most vulnerable get the protection of a COVID-19 vaccine and that’s why we are doing everything we can to remove any and all barriers,” Ford said in a statement Tuesday.
“In our 2021 Budget we are providing funding to help people get to the vaccines, or to bring the vaccines to them.”
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said these groups are often without any independent means of transportation and may have to rely on public transport. Travelling long-distance by taxi or ride-sharing is not an option either, he said.
“We are going to remove this barrier,” Bethlenfalvy said. “We will quite literally drive you to your vaccine appointment because the lack of transportation should never get in the way of something so important.”
The budget will be released on Wednesday.
The premier’s office said the province will work with local communities and public health units to implement the service for those who need assistance. More details on how the program will work will be available in the coming days.
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