Despite a slow race to get vaccinated, Chatham-Kent's top doctor says he's confident the community will meet the vaccination target to move out of Step 3 of Ontario's reopening plan.
According to Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby, the municipality has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the province.
In Ontario, adults aged 18+ have an 81.21 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 69.73 per cent. By comparison, in Chatham-Kent, adults aged 18+ have a 77 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 67 percent.
The municipality is also behind the province by 11.5 percentage points for a full vaccination rate among youth aged 12 to 17.
"It's getting to a point where it's a pandemic of the unvaccinated," said Dr. Colby. "We need to do better. We know what we have to do and we just have to do it."
According to Premier Doug Ford, the province needs to reach its goal of vaccinating 80 per cent of eligible residents with one dose and 75 per cent with two, in order to permit Ontarians to move out of Step 3. Ford said the province is close to reaching its vaccination goal.
"We are making it easy and convenient for people to get their kids vaccinated," said Dr. Colby. "We've done pop-up clinics, appointments are no longer required to get a vaccine at the Bradley Centre and we will continue all of these measures as well as any others in order to increase vaccinations."
On August 5, CK Public Health will be hosting a community-wide celebration to highlight the municipality's vaccination rates and encourage those needing a vaccine to get vaccinated.
Residents who are vaccinated are being asked to share their reason online or by posting a photo using the hashtag #TwoDoseSummerCK on social media.
Residents who are not fully vaccinated are being invited to complete their vaccination by attending a walk-in clinic or booking an appointment before or on August, 5.
“Time is running out for unvaccinated members of our community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the school year starts," said Dr. Colby.
