Canadian Government Executive - Volume 26 - Issue 05

January/February 2021 // Canadian Government Executive / 7 COVID-19 that is most accessible. In long-term care homes, they have primarily been using the Moderna vaccine, as it can be stored at higher temperatures. Yet as we move through the distribution phases, it will become increasingly complicated to track who should be receiving which vaccine. With multiple vaccine distribution cen- ters in each province, data will need to be shared between them to ensure that everyone is receiving a second dose of the appropriate vaccine in a timely manner. In the U.K., there has been discussion of delaying the second doses of the vaccines, but this has yet to be backed by Canadian doctors. This means that there needs to be a strict schedule in place to ensure that second doses are administered properly. Otherwise, the vaccine may be ineffective. A widespread vaccine registry will need to be implemented to track this informa- tion and to ensure all patients are receiv- ing the correct second shot. With any data collection, there is a risk for data breaches or cybersecurity threats. Healthcare data is extremely confidential; thus, the risks are higher as more data is collected. This means that, along with ensuring there are vaccine registries in place, there needs to be sufficient atten- tion paid to the storage of this data. Secure encryption and appropriate measures to protect access to the data can help ensure that all vital healthcare data is kept safe. Awareness and Confidence Although the vaccine has undergone suf- ficient trials and is considered to be safe, the public has been skeptical about the speed at which the vaccines were ap- proved. According to Statistics Canada, 75 per cent of Canadians plan on getting the vaccine; yet, in order for it to be ef- fective, 70 to 80 per cent of the popula- tion needs to be vaccinated. Since it isn’t mandatory, the healthcare community has been forced to advocate for the safety of the vaccines. Technology can be used to help disseminate this important mes- saging and can help to instill confidence. We are already seeing leaders share their vaccination stories and healthcare provid- ers educate the general public on the vac- cines. This immunization campaign will need to continue in order to achieve the required results. Unfortunately, no amount of positive PR and personal stories will result in 100 per cent of the population being vaccinated, and this data will also need to be collected. There are already businesses and coun- tries setting up limitations for those who choose not to receive the vaccine, mean- ing that there needs to be infrastructure in place to track those who are not vacci- nated. Unfortunately, this leads to issues with privacy. Canada will need to create a public and secure COVID-19 vaccination passport to share information on who is vaccinated, who has antibodies, and who is still at risk. Strategy Improvement With Canada’s vaccination distribution strategy already receiving widespread criticism, governments need to implement immediate improvements. Although the healthcare and governmental sectors have traditionally been slow to adopt technol- ogy, governments need to find trusted technology and data services providers to implement solutions quickly. These solu- tions will need to be secure and scalable, ready to be expanded if other vaccines are approved by Health Canada. Innovation and collaboration were pivotal in getting vaccines approved quickly, and both are now needed to help distribute and track the vaccines. Technology will be the back- bone of any effective distribution strategy to help governments remain organized and keep citizens safe. Kevin Grauman is the President and CEO of QLess, a line management system used by retail, education, and government in- dustries. He is no stranger to the world of startups, with a proven track record as a successful U.S.-based executive leader and entrepreneur. Kevin has been recognized as one of the “100 Superstars of HR Outsourcing in the USA” by HRO Today Magazine. lasting only a few months, this system will need to be expanded upon. It also needs to be used to protect those who have yet to be vaccinated. When widespread vac- cinations happen, crowds in healthcare facilities will need to be managed through strict appointment scheduling. Distribution of Vaccinations With two vaccines being distributed in the country, each requiring two separate doses, keeping track of the distribution process is difficult. That’s where data col- lection and sharing will be of the utmost importance. Information on who receives each vaccine, when they will need the second dose, and when they are fully vac- cinated will need to be closely tracked. First, patients will need to be matched to the appropriate vaccine based on their medical history, as well as the availability of the vaccine. With complicated storage needs for each vaccine, phase one focuses on matching patients with the vaccine