For all the surprises COVID-19 has presented over the course of the pandemic, people’s refusal to be vaccinated while at a vaccination clinic in Peterborough remains the most baffling of them all to the region’s medical officer of health.
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Friday (May 7), Dr. Rosana Salvaterra noted “a few” residents have “walked away” when they learned that the Moderna vaccine was going to be administered to them.
“I find that extremely disappointing and hard to understand,” she said, advising people to call the provincial vaccine information line at 1-888-999-6488 to have any vaccine-related questions answered.
“I was dumbfounded when I heard that there were 25 people yesterday at the Evinrude Centre (clinic) who turned around and walked out and gave up their chance to be immunized when they learned we are using Moderna. I have no idea why that’s the case.”
Pfizer and Moderna are equivalent vaccines, in that both use mRNA (messenger ribonucleuc acid) to trigger an immune response by teaching cells how to make a protein similar to that found on the “spike” of the virus that causes COVID-19. Studies have shown both Pfizer and Moderna are over 90 per cent effective in protecting against COVID-19, starting 14 days after the first dose.
“People need to educate themselves and take advantage of all the great materials made available that speak to the effectiveness of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines,” Dr. Salvaterra added. “Especially for the older population, they blow influenza vaccines out of the water.”
That strange refusal aside, close to 3,600 people have been vaccinated over the past week, bringing the total number of those who have received at least their first dose to 60,427 — close to 56,000 of those Peterborough-area residents. That brings the coverage rate to 45.4 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, 4,421 people who have received two vaccine doses and are now fully immunized.
On Thursday (May 6), three new groups became eligible to book a vaccine appointment: people 50 years old and up, people with high-risk health conditions such as obesity as well as people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and essential workers who can’t work from home — a large grouping that includes teachers, school bus operators, farm workers, enforcement workers and licensed child care providers.
“Pfizer has now been approved by Health Canada for anyone 12 years of age and older,” said Dr. Salvaterra, adding “Plans are underway to extend vaccination to our younger residents. We should have more information on that in the next week or two.”
On Tuesday, there were still 4,500 vaccine appointments available in the Peterborough region but, as of Friday morning, there were no appointments available to book. Dr. Salvaterra is asking for patience on the part of those eligible to book their appointment, saying “We do expect to open up more appointments next week starting on Monday (May 10).”
Next week will see vaccine eligibility extended to those 40 and up, followed by those 30 and up the week of May 17 and to those 18 and up the week of May 24.
Area residents are directed to phone the provincial call centre at 1-833-943-3900 to book their COVID vaccination appointments when they are in the age group that has become eligible. The line is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days per week.
Eligible residents can also continue to book their appointments online by visiting ontario.ca/bookvaccine.
Dr. Salvaterra also announced the creation of a local standby vaccination list.
“Now that more people are eligible for a vaccine, it helps us prevent any vaccine wastage by using up leftover doses at the end of the clinic day,” she explained. “The list is not a guaranteed way to get immunized, so book through the provincial system. But if you like, you can also sign up for this standby list.”
“We limit it to 100 people and it opens up as space permits. You can sign up for it on our website on the vaccine clinics page. To get on the list, you must be eligible for a vaccine and you must not have received your first dose. You must be available and reachable between 3 and 7 p.m. seven days a week and you have to be within 30 minutes drive of any of our clinics.”
Residents can sign up for the extra dose standby list at s-ca.chkmkt.com/?e=228538&h=BEB7DD32BB15A73.
As of Thursday (May 6) at 4:30 p.m., the number of active cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha was reported as 68 — down 14 from last Thursday. Since Monday, 32 new cases have been detected locally with the number of new cases in May at 47.
However, the number of close contacts of positive cases being closely monitored by public health staff has gone up after decreasing in recent weeks, now at 216, up 23 this week.
There are currently five active outbreaks in the region, including two in daycare settings. Two outbreaks have been declared over, including a longstanding one at Empress Gardens Retirement Residence that led to two COVID-related deaths.
Dr. Salvaterra also reported an additional death, bringing to 15 the number of local people who have died from the virus over the course of the pandemic. She had no details on that death as it occurred just recently.
With Ontario public health officials hinting that an extension of the provincial lockdown until the end of June is a distinct possibility, Dr. Salvaterra says “We do need to see those (provincial case) numbers come down before we open up.”
“I don’t want to see a repeat of what happened in February. Until we see those numbers come down, we have to sit tight. What we don’t want is a fourth wave. We want to come out of this and we want to stay out of it.”
Also commenting during Friday’s briefing were Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, and Peterborough board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.
