Hamilton’s most racialized neighbourhoods have high rates of COVID

Public health data on the vaccine rollout shows Hamilton's most racialized neighbourhoods are in areas with the highest incidence rates of COVID.

The neighbourhoods with the highest proportion of racialized individuals are in census tracts that fall into the two highest groups of COVID-19 per 100,000 population.

The disparity shows the importance of public health, as of Monday, going back to collecting key social determinants of health information, such as race-based data, related to COVID. The department had stopped collecting some of this data in January when it was overwhelmed by the second wave.

Medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson has already said it's unlikely public health will ever be able to retrieve the missing data. There is also a large gap from when the pandemic started in Hamilton on March 11 until the department started collecting this information May 26.

It is important to us that we have that data, that we look at those issues and trends," Richardson said at a board of health meeting on Friday. I'm glad to say we'll be back to doing that."

It's also significant for the vaccine rollout, as public health determines the best way to engage with the highest-risk neighbourhoods, instil confidence in the vaccine and make clinics accessible.

These are areas for us that there is great importance in reaching with respect to vaccine and ensuring they have every opportunity to access the vaccine," Michelle Baird, a director with public health, told the board.

Two of the neighbourhoods are in downtown's Ward 2, two are in west Hamilton's Ward 1 and one is in the east end's Ward 5. They all have incidence rates of at least 1,330 per 100,000 population and some are in the group that goes up to 5,000.

Public health is considering pop-up clinics held at libraries, recreation centres and other neighbourhood accessible sites. It's also looking at clinics on buses.

For those who can't leave their home, rolling clinics would see vaccinators dropped off in a neighbourhood to go door-to-door.

Lastly, drive-thru clinics would allow residents to get vaccinated in their own cars.

Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com