Niagara could reach 40% vaccinated by May 6: Hirji
Medical officer of health cites work by pharmacies, doctors; says if target not reached it’ll be close
If Niagara doesn’t meet Premier Doug Ford’s goal of 40 per cent vaccinated by May 6 it will be “very close,” acting medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji said Monday. About 94,000 Niagara residents, or roughly 21 per cent, have received at least one vaccine dose since the first local clinic opened in January.
Ford set the May 6 goal of reaching 40 per cent provincewide amid surging COVID-19 infections and rapidly growing fears the hospital system will be overwhelmed if cases aren’t brought under control.
For the past week and a half, Ontario has been in lockdown under an emergency stay-at-home order that, along with vaccines, the government hopes will do the trick.
“It’s certainly possible” Niagara will hit 40 per cent by May 6, said Hirji.
“Close to five per cent of the public was vaccinated in the last week, so by that it would take maybe another four weeks to get to 40 per cent. The difference now is that we have primary care (doctors) and pharmacies starting to vaccinate more,” he said.
“That may actually speed up that timeline,” he added.
So far, 93 per cent of residents 80 and older have been vaccinated. Hirji expects 90 per cent of the 75 to 79 group will have been reached within a week, and soon three-quarters of those aged 70 to 75.
Niagara Region Public Health and Niagara Health have provided the bulk of vaccinations, focusing on people aged 60 and older, front-line health-care workers and emergency responders, at-risk populations and, starting this week, 6,000 teachers and educational workers.
“The difference now is that we have primary care (doctors) and pharmacies starting to vaccinate more.”
DR. MUSTAFA HIRJI
Some pharmacies are offering needles to people 55 and older, and the area of Niagara Falls with a postal code starting with L2G was identified as a COVID-19 hot spot where people 50 and older are eligible to be vaccinated.
Hirji said more public health mass vaccination clinic dates will be named soon, possibly by Tuesday.
On Sunday, 3,484 COVID-19 vaccines were administered. Niagara’s busiest day so far, according to public health data, was April 6 when 3,919 vaccinations were provided.
To book a vaccination at a community clinic, go online to Ontario.ca/bookvaccine or phone the number 1-888-9996488.
To book at a pharmacy, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/ vaccine-locations.