The region’s top doctor is encouraged by the impact of vaccination in Simcoe-Muskoka.
“The great change is a profound reduction in outbreaks and deaths in long-term care facilities and retirement homes,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
He noted there are still some cases in seniors and the health unit is reporting deaths from COVID-19, though not usually in the over 79 year old group now.
“The pattern of mortality has changed,” said Gardner.
Based on preliminary reporting from the province’s public health agency, the vaccine rollout in Ontario may also be contributing to a reduction in the number of people contracting COVID. A benefit to the vaccines that wasn’t guaranteed in early research.
Public Health Ontario reported 2,223 people of the 3.5 million people in the province who received one or two doses of a COVID vaccine by April 17, developed COVID-19 symptoms, which is a 0.06 per cent infection rate.
“I’m tremendously encouraged by the results we’ve seen for immunization in this province,” he said. “The vaccines are very highly effective and there’s mounting evidence they also reduce transmission to others.”
In the Simcoe-Muskoka region, Gardner said there has been a “profound” uptake in individuals opting to receive a vaccination against COVID-19. Region-wide, 43 per cent of those aged 16 years old and over have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are seeing the results of that,” said Gardner.
Case rates have dropped about 40 per cent from mid-April to the current week.
However, Gardner warned against individuals easing up on public health measures after receiving one or two doses of a vaccine against COVID-19.
“While they might take comfort in that protection, and there is a high degree of protection with a single dose, at this point in time we’re not recommending any kind of relaxation of control measures for anyone, even if you are fully immunized,” said Gardner.
He urged people to follow the stay-at-home order, and to gather only with members of your household.
The health unit is expecting another increase in the number of vaccines delivered to the region by the end of the month. In the meantime, local clinics are booking for more eligible groups announced by the province, and working on second doses for those who received their first dose in January and early February, Indigenous people and their families, people with certain health conditions, and eventually also health care workers.
You can find more information on vaccine eligibility and booking instructions online here.
While appointments and eligibility is opening up, those booking a vaccine appointment may still have to wait. Availability of appointments still depends on the local vaccine supply assigned by the province.
“There may be some delay before they actually are able to get an immunization, I feel that’s important for people to know,” said Gardner.
The health unit has been monitoring what Gardner called the “balance” between how many vaccine doses are provided from local clinics to those living outside of Simcoe-Muskoka versus how many Simcoe-Muskoka residents are receiving vaccines outside of the region.
So far, said Gardner, “slightly” more citizens from Simcoe-Muskoka are getting vaccinated outside of the region when compared to non-residents being vaccinated at Simcoe-Muskoka clinics.
“This is something we’re going to keep a very close eye on,” said Gardner. “We want to make sure we’re able to … provide immunization to our citizens.”
He said if the balance changes to indicate the health unit is providing more vaccines for out-of-towners than its citizens are receiving from out-of-town clinics, he will be requesting more doses from the province to make up for the imbalance.
Yesterday, the province announced a pause on the rollout of AstraZeneca vaccines, which were typically being distributed through pharmacies and primary care providers. In Simcoe-Muskoka, there’s been about 33,000 doses of AstraZeneca administered.
Gardner said he is expecting some local pharmacies to receive Pfizer and Moderna doses, but is waiting for more information from the province on which ones will receive vaccines and when.
In the region, a majority of vaccines administered have been the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine (about 177,500 doses). The health unit also reports about 31,400 doses of Moderna have been administered in Simcoe-Muskoka.
