Chatham-kent's top MD perplexed at region's lower vaccination rate

Dr. David Colby expected Chatham-kent residents to hit a collective home run with their vaccine uptake, so he's dismayed at how many refuse to even pick up a bat.

The COVID -19 vaccination rates in Chatham-kent lag behind the provincial averages for most age groups and are well behind in the youngest categories.

“We are one of the lowest vaccination jurisdictions in the province,” said Colby, Chatham-kent's medical officer of health.

“If you'd asked me in the beginning, I would have said, `Once we get the vaccine, the people of Chatham-kent will step up to the plate just like they always do and hit the ball out of the park. We're going to see really high vaccination rates here.' I do not understand.”

In Chatham-kent, 77 per cent of residents 18 and older have received at least one dose and 67 per cent have received two. The provincial averages are 81.1 per cent with at least one dose and 69.2 per cent with two.

Locally, 52 per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds have received at least one dose and 33 per cent have received two, while the provincial averages are 65.2 per cent and 43.4 per cent, respectively.

The relative rates are even worse for 18- to 29-year-olds in Chatham-kent, where 55 per cent have at least one dose and 40 per cent have two. The provincial averages are 70.8 per cent and 52.9 per cent, respectively.

Chatham-kent is also below the provincial averages for people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. However, local residents in their 60s and 70s are rolling up their sleeves at rates above the provincial averages.