The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit acknowledges there is some work left to do to meet provincial vaccination rate targets to leave Step Three of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen but is confident a revamped approach will lead the way.
See related story: Vaccination focus to change to mobile and pop-up clinics
As of Wednesday afternoon, the district stands at 77 per cent of residents age 12 and older with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, says Andrea McLellan, the Health Unit's Director of COVID-19 Immunization Strategy. The two-dose vaccination rate is 66 per cent. Over 163,000 doses have been administered district-wide.
The province entered Step Three, July 16, and will remain at that stage of the reopening plan for at least 21 days — and until 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of its eligible population aged 12 and over fully vaccinated.
The Health Unit reports the district is 3,658 short in the first dose department and 11,020 second doses away from the provincial target, as of Wednesday.
"Other key public health and health care indicators must also continue to remain stable. Upon meeting these thresholds, the vast majority of public health and workplace safety measures will be lifted," according to the Roadmap to Reopen.
See also: ONTARIO: Health units push to boost youth vaccination rate as school-year window closes
Youth (ages 12-17) vaccination rates in the district have been steadily climbing since the age of eligibility was dropped to include that age group in May, as the Health Unit reports 62 per cent have received one dose, while 40 per cent have received two.
Even before news outbreaks and isolation standards in schools will have a different set of rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated students, the local Health Unit consistently advocated for young people to get vaccinated ahead of the start of school in September. The Health Unit will offer youth-based clinics in the schools once school is back in session.
See related: Health Unit discusses mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students
And: Health Unit says vaccinations will protect the region's youth
According to provincial data, there are 5,000 people in the district who have received the first shot but have not scheduled their second. "We will be reaching out to those individuals to help them access their second dose of vaccine,' McLellan advises.
The Health Unit is shifting its approach when it comes to clinics. Some were cancelled and those who had signed up have been contacted to arrange a new appointment. McLellan says all clinics will have walk-in spaces and both Moderna and Pfizer doses will be available. Pop-up clinics will be held throughout the district, including next week in Powassan, River Valley and Verner. McLellan says other pop-up clinics are in the works.
