The COVID-19 vaccination roll-out team from the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is pleased by the public's response and uptake since the introduction of its mobile clinics.
See related: Health Unit: Mobile vax clinics reaching people across district
Although the vaccination rates broken down by age category show North Bay–Parry Sound falling behind the corresponding provincial averages at the lower end of the range, as Director of COVID-19 Immunization Strategy Andrea McLellan noted during the Health Unit's most recent media availability, there is especially room for improvement among one particular cohort in the district.
"The age group with the lowest vaccine rates are those 18 to 29 years of age with only 73 per cent who have received at least one dose and 64 per cent who are fully vaccinated. That means 27 per cent or about one in four have yet to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine."
According to COVaxON, the province's vaccination reporting system, as of Monday the rate of eligible Ontarians age 18–29 with at least one dose is 83 per cent and it is 76.8 per cent for two doses.
"If you know someone in this age group," McLellan continued, "I encourage you to have a conversation with them about being vaccinated. They can also call our call centre at 1.844.478.1400 if they have any questions."
In offering a comparison, McLellan reported among the 12 to 17 age group — which became eligible for vaccination months after all the age groups 18 and older — 81 per cent in the district have at least one dose and 72 have both, outpacing the local 18–29 group.
In Ontario, the rate for the 12–17 age category with at least one dose is 83.4 per cent and it is 77.4 per cent for two.
The target remains to have 90 per cent fully vaccinated before the end of the year.
In North Bay–Parry Sound, as of Monday, 86 per cent of all eligible residents 12 and over have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 81 per cent have received two doses. Province-wide, 88 per cent of those eligible who are 12 and over have one dose, while 84 per cent have two.
Vaccination clinics continue this week in North Bay, Monday at the Northgate Shopping Centre, Tuesday at the North Bay Mall, with several in the following days and weeks scheduled for the Elks Lodge. There are also several mobile clinics planned for communities across the district. For more details on clinics, click here.
Public Service Announcement: Walk-in and Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics to be Held October 25 to October 30. Read more: https://t.co/xQa8NHSj1u pic.twitter.com/S6QfVlTAfO
— North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (@NBPSDHealthUnit) October 25, 2021
