Hamilton tied for lowest rate of fully vaccinated in Ontario
Hamilton is tied for Ontario's worst COVID vaccination rate.
Provincial data shows five public health units have just 74 per cent of eligible residents fully vaccinated with two doses - Hamilton, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Porcupine, and Renfrew County and District.
It compares to 78 per cent for Ontario, while the top public health units are Leeds, Grenville and Lanark at 88 per cent and Halton at 83 per cent. Haldimand and Norfolk, which used to have the lowest rate, has now pulled ahead of Hamilton with 75 per cent.
Modelling shows us if we don't soon get to 90 per cent of Ontarians fully vaccinated we may risk many more months of these brutal waves of infection," said Dr. Adam Kassam, president of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) in a September briefing. We have that ability to really control our fate."
Hamilton hasn't had a boost in COVID shots from the announcement of imminent vaccine passports coming on Sept. 22 - in sharp contrast to the province's 29 per cent bump.
In fact, vaccination is dropping here, with an average 1,195 doses a day last week from Sept. 6 to 12. It compares to 1,498 from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5, and 1,510 from Aug. 23 to Aug. 29. The passports were announced on Sept. 1.
The city has now had two days where doses dropped below 700 for the first time since February - 681 on Sept. 12 and 612 on Sept. 6.
Public health aims to get vaccination up by going to more places where people are and leveraging strong relationships with community organizations," medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said in a statement Friday.
We continue to focus efforts on targeting those in the community who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 to ensure barriers are removed for accessing a vaccine," she said. The hyperlocal approach includes dozens of mobile clinics in the weeks ahead."
Mass vaccination clinics have closed in favour of COVID shots at apartment buildings, high-risk workplaces, schools and shopping areas.
A mobile clinic is returning to CF Lime Ridge on Sept. 18 and 19 after having success at the mall over the Labour Day weekend when 500 doses were administered from Friday to Saturday.
The strategy also includes fall fairs, although the mobile clinic appears to be at the Ancaster Fairgrounds only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and at the Binbrook Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Vaccination is the cornerstone to ending the acute phase of the pandemic," Dr. Lawrence Loh, medical officer of health for the Region of Peel, said at the OMA briefing. What ultimately happens with this fourth wave is in all of our hands and it's in our arms."
Hamilton has been among Ontario's hardest hit by the fourth wave so far, although COVID numbers are dropping. Hamilton had the fourth-highest COVID rate Tuesday after Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Brant. However, the rate has dropped 28 per cent in the last seven days, shows analysis done by epidemiologist Ahmed Al-Jaishi.
Other key metrics have also fallen, with average daily new cases at 45 on Sept. 12 compared to 80 on Aug. 31. At the same time, the weekly rate per 100,000 population went down to 53 from 94.
Cases are expected to surge again with kids back in school and cooler weather driving gatherings indoors.
The months ahead will be challenging," Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore said Tuesday. COVID-19 is not going away. The risk posed will continue throughout the fall and winter."
The city reported two COVID deaths in the last two days - both seniors in their 60s - to bring the pandemic toll to 410.
Hamilton Health Sciences says unvaccinated COVID patients are straining health resources, particularly at Hamilton General Hospital where surgeries have been cancelled.
In addition, two-thirds of Hamilton's 316 active COVID cases are among the young - those under the age of 40 who are also least likely to be vaccinated.
Some young adults mistakenly believe they don't need vaccines because they are at lower risk of serious complications," said Kassam.
It's absolutely vital for people to understand that if you are young, you are still at risk with Delta," said Loh. You may very well have high odds of having a mild illness but we're seeing in the United States ... young individuals who are spending significant amounts of time in hospital."
With the second week of school underway, one in three youths age 12 to 24 still aren't fully vaccinated with two doses.
A troubling change is that kids up to age nine make up the group with the third-highest number of active cases in Hamilton - there is no vaccine for these children. The highest age groups for active cases are those in their 20s followed by those in their 30s.
Immunization rates among adults will have a direct effect on keeping children safe," said Kassam. We want to create this firewall around schools."
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com