Peterborough’s agonizing wait for increased vaccine supply ends next week — good news as the region’s active case count has shown a dramatic upswing this week.
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Friday (May 14), medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra confirmed more than 7,000 Pfizer doses — more than twice that which has been received in recent weeks — are expected to arrive Monday (May 17).
“We’re going to be doubling our capacity at our Evinrude (Centre) clinics and we will also be going back to seven days per week rollout,” she said. “We’ll look again to see about clinics outside of Peterborough. We’re in conversation with our partners about extending the hours of our clinics with more immunizers.”
“We’re also making plans to move the vaccine clinic from the multi-purpose room to the Leon’s ice pad, which will essentially triple the volume we’re currently able to do.”
For people who are eligible for the vaccine but have been unable to find available appointments, Dr. Salvaterra encouraged them to try again next week.
“We’re putting appointments online as we can,” she said. “I suggest people keep checking back and book appointments when they become available. We expect to be able to deliver 65,000 vaccines per month moving forward.”
Confirmation of increased vaccine shipments coincides with the encouraging news that close to 50 per cent of eligible residents have received at least their first dose.
“In the last week alone, we’ve increased the vaccination rate by almost four per cent of the eligible population,” said Dr. Salvaterra, noting 66,045 total doses have been administered — 60,524 of them to Peterborough city and county residents — with 4,575 people having received two doses and now considered fully vaccinated.
“I feel confident that we will able to achieve the provincial target of 65 per cent (of all adults receiving their first does) by the end of May. That’s quite impressive considering the limited vaccine supply we’ve had over the past several weeks.”
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.
Speaking to the provincial government’s pause in administering the AstraZeneca vaccine due to the rare risk of blood clots, Dr. Salvaterra is expecting news on that front will come soon.
“I recognize that close to 7,000 local residents who received their first dose (of AstraZeneca) likely have many questions. We are awaiting (health) ministry guidance on how best to address second doses for this group. We’ll need another week or two before there may be some firm decisions that we can share.”
Provincial health officials are considering whether to proceed with second doses of AstraZeneca, since the risk of blood clots is much lower with second doses, or whether to second doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead.
Meanwhile, those disappointed, frustrated, or even angry over the government’s decision to extend the stay-at-home order until at least June 2 might want to look at the most recent local case count numbers.
As of Thursday (May 13) at 4:30 p.m., the number of active cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha was reported as 89 — a dramatic increase of 24 since Tuesday. So far this week, 45 new cases have been detected while the number of close contacts of positive cases being closely monitored by public health staff has again risen, now at 285, up 58 this week. As for active outbreaks, that number has dropped to three with this week’s clearing of an ongoing outbreak in a daycare setting.
“I support this decision,” said Dr. Salvaterra of the extension of the stay-at-home order. “We need a little more time to being our cases under control and to increase the percentage of our population that has some protection before we open up.”
“I want this lockdown to be our last. I understand that people are getting weary, but this is not the time to give up. We are on the verge of getting to the other side of this.”
On the enforcement front, talk centred on the continued defiance of public health restrictions by Hill City Baptist Church.
Under the lockdown, religious services cannot exceed 10 people in attendance. Last Saturday (May 8) at Nicholls Oval, some 30 to 40 people gathered for an outdoor service and a charge was laid against Pastor Alex Kloosterman.
“We have received complaints against three different places of worship,” confirmed Dr. Salvaterra.
“All have been investigated, including site visits. None have resulted in charges. Overall I’d say this sector has been extremely co-operative and compliant — with one exception, that being Hill City Baptist Church.”
“Last year we also received several complaints,” Dr. Salvaterra recalled. “The church disregarded and disputed public health measures. We did pay a visit to the church — I went myself — and we observed that the majority of congregants were removing their masks upon entry.”
“We met with Pastor Kloosterman and he made it very clear he had no intention of complying with the provincial requirement for masking. We were preparing to take additional enforcement action, but that wasn’t required as the church vacated the building it was leasing on December 17.”
For his part, Pastor Kloosterman has argued that outdoor gatherings are not a high-risk activity, and that freedom of religion and expression supercede the Re-Opening Ontario Act.
Asked for her take on his argument, Dr. Salvaterra made her position clear.
“I’m not prepared to get into an argument with the pastor through the media. I’ve made my case to him. He knows where I’m coming from. I know where he’s coming from. We have a difference of opinion.”
Also commenting during Friday’s briefing were Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef, Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien, and Peterborough board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.
