With the expected return to in-person school classes this September, Peterborough’s medical officer of health is urging unvaccinated youths who are eligible for vaccination “to act this week.”
During a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Thursday (July 29), Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said the “window of opportunity for both students and school staff is closing.”
“We need to see much higher vaccination rates amongst youths in order to prepare for a safe return to school,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “First doses amongst the youngest age group only increased by about three per cent last week.”
“Our youth and younger adults still need better protection. The risk of getting COVID-19 is 6.4 times higher for unimmunized individuals. You do remain vulnerable until you get your shots.”
While confirming the health unit is looking at the feasibility of providing on-site vaccination clinics at both Trent University and Fleming College come the fall, Dr. Salvaterra isn’t ruling out the possibility of clinics being held on-site at high schools and even elementary schools.
“We have the capacity and the vaccine supply to see vaccination rates climb faster,” she said, noting anyone eligible who wants the vaccine can and will receive it upon making an appointment or arriving at a walk-in clinic — wheter for a first or second dose.
As of Wednesday (July 28) at 5 p.m., 200,092 total vaccines doses had been administered in the Peterborough region, with 103,414 having received their first dose and another 88,732 fully vaccinated with their second dose.
To date, 78.9 per cent of residents aged 12 and up have received one dose while 67.7 per cent of the same age group are fully vaccinated with two doses. However, the numbers are less impressive for the aged 12 to 17 demographic, now at 68.3 per cent with a first dose and just 43 per cent fully vaccinated with two doses.
To reinforce the message she has consistently emphasized since the first vaccines were administered, Dr. Salvaterra pointed to a recent Public Health Ontario estimation that 31,000 cases of COVID-19 among adults 18 years old and older have been prevented by immunization so far this summer. In addition, a further 2.500 hospitalizations or deaths have been prevented among adults aged 70 and older.
“These (numbers) are likely an underestimation but they tell the story of how well vaccines are saving lives, preventing hospitalizations, and protecting our communities,” said Dr. Salvaterra, acknowledging that vaccine complacency is a thing and it is an issue locally.
Dr. Salvaterra noted there’s no longer a need for people to wait three or four months for your second dose, as was the recommendation in the spring when there was less vaccine supply.
“We have thousands of people who got their first dose, were given an appointment for 12 to 16 weeks later for their second dose, and who are hanging on to those appointments,” she pointed out. “We have been reaching out to them. We’re now speaking to the province, where they are going to use some of their capacity at their call centre to start phoning these people and help them book an earlier appointment.”
“We have the availability,” Dr. Salvaterra said. “For those who are hanging on (to original booked appointments), we can do you sooner.”
Dr. Salvaterra also confirmed she supports the idea of some kind of vaccination certificate.
“We’ve used these for decades for entry into countries where there’s a public health risk from an infectious disease,” she said. “They’ve worked for us in the past and I can’t see why they won’t work fo us going forward.”
As for the hard numbers locally, the number of active cases in Peterborough city and county, Curve Lake, and Hiawatha was reported as five as of Wednesday (July 28) at 4:30 p.m. — the same number as one week ago. However, five new cases have been confirmed since Monday.
The number of close contacts of positive cases being monitored is 18 and there is one outbreak ongoing at a congregate living facility, but that’s expected to be declared over soon.
Also commenting during Thursday’s briefing were Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones, and Peterborough board of health chair and Selwyn mayor Andy Mitchell.
