Lambton Public Health is looking into the possibility of ramping up health measures at indoor sport and recreation facilities across the region.
The medical officers of health for London-Middlesex, Elgin-Oxford, and Huron-Perth recently announced that proof of vaccination will be required for those 12 and older at the above facilities, starting October 31. The mandate would apply to those who participate in, coach, officiate, or watch organized sports or fitness programs.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said his question, is why the province hasn't addressed this loophole in its certificate system.
"We're looking at those kinds of options to close that loophole but the other question is maybe the province should consider closing it," he said.
Under the province's current system, those under the age of 18 are exempt from showing proof of vaccination if they are entering an indoor sport or recreation facility to solely participate in an organized activity.
Ranade said current policies in place will not be enough to reach the province's 90 per cent vaccination target.
"I think that you need much more policy tools and restrictions to get you over 90 and then I would be asking if you're trying to get over 90, then you're probably trying for 100 [per cent]," said Ranade. "What you're really trying to say is everybody needs to be immunized and the only exemptions are a very narrow medical exemption rather than any philosophical exemption or any personal belief exemption. That's how you get past 85 or 90."
Again, Ranade said there are questions as to who would be responsible for establishing and enforcing additional policies.
"We need to have some kind of analysis -- ideally from the government that would say 'these are the rates of unvaccinated [people] that our health system can tolerate,'" he said.
As of Thursday, 279 people were hospitalized across the province with COVID-19, of which 50 were fully vaccinated. Of the 149 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, 15 are fully vaccinated.
"I look over at Manitoba, and I look over at Alberta, and I look over at Saskatchewan and I say 'are we just a few weeks or months away from that situation?' If we are, then that is a much more compelling reason to me to get everybody immunized," said Ranade.
The health unit previously reported that 77.2 per cent of Sarnia-Lambton's eligible population was fully vaccinated. However, the active case count jumped to 98 on Thursday.
As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches, Ranade said it may be a good idea for residents to speak with family members about what they are comfortable with this year.
"Be willing to have those conversations with people that you care about, about your expectations around their presence," he said. "That they be well, they be healthy, and ideally that they be vaccinated."
