3,123 LOCAL HEALTH-CARE WORKERS HAVE RECEIVED COVID VACCINE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — More than 3,000 local health-care workers in North Simcoe and Muskoka have received the first doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine since Dec. 22.

Almost 600 alone yesterday.

The northern two thirds of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is the fourth-most active provider among 20 regions in Ontario — and one of the least affected areas in this health unit.

So far 3,123 doses have been administered.

But exactly when you can roll up your sleeve for an injection is still months away.

So stand by and stay masked.

Dr. Charles Gardner said this afternoon the goal is to “reach most” people “by August.”

Eventually pharmacies, EMS and primary care physicians could be among future distributors.

The medical officer of health for Simcoe and Muskoka said that while the type of vaccine the region is receiving from the province is “in flux,” he expects to “soon” be able to move vaccine distribution beyond its one site through Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie.

With the Moderna vaccine — which requires less refrigeration — now approved by the province, mobile distribution is anticipated pending more clarity and direction from the province.

The Simcoe South area of the health unit is receiving its vaccines through South Lake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket and the Central LHIN.

Gardner said that in Muskoka and North Simcoe 1,539 workers in LTCs and 1,584 staff in have gotten the vaccine as of this Tuesday Jan. 5.

He said there are about 20,000 health-care workers and residents they have prioritized in the first round.

After that the list includes — among similar workers — those administering COVID swab tests in Assessment Centres, paramedics, medical office staff, home-care and congregate setting providers and those who help seniors in their homes.

Meanwhile, regarding today’s 70 cases, Gardner said 33 were males and 37 females, ranging in age from about 10 to in their 80s. None of them required hospitalization.

However, currently there are 26 people in hospital with the virus aged from their 50s to 90s. That’s up from 18 people two weeks ago.

There are 20 outbreaks, including two at educational institutions and one at an Orillia shelter. And 12 institutional health care facilities, including Roger’s Cove in Huntsville where a staff member tested positive.

And there are no workplaces experiencing outbreaks.

Gardner said Muskoka continues on an “upward trend” with 20 cases per 100,000 population. The region as a whole is for the first time above 60 cases per 100,000. It’s number is 68 cases per 100,000. That’s why SMDHU is in the red zone.

To be in the official grey lockdown zone that number would have to be 100 cases per 100,000 population.

About half of all new infections in December with a known cause were acquired from close contact with a confirmed positive case and about 20 per cent were acquired in the community with no known source of infection.

Nearly one-third of all active cases are among young adults 18-34 years. This age group has had the highest rate of infection since June and the rate in December for this age group was 74 per cent higher in December when compared with November.

And the reproduction rate is 1.3, which is up from 1.0 a week ago.

He said the good news is the doubling rate is down, but it could still mean 7,500 cases by Feb. 15.

But that seems a worst case scenario, because as of today there has been 3,896 cases.

And with a 1.6 per cent increase in cases now, the week of Jan. 24-30 could see 85 cases daily and projected 101 cases per 100,000 population.

Over at the Georgian Bay General Hospital 32 staff, 32 and 32 residents are still corona positive, up from 24 and 23 respectively. One visitor has also tested positive.

And while Gardner is “concerned” about dozens of national politicians being caught travelling abroad against medical advice, he’s as much concerned with ensuring local residents he’s responsible for stay safely in place and not migrating about for work, shopping and recreation.

That includes forwarding his staff’s recommendations to the province re: ski hill openings, which he cautioned about.

On the vaccine, again, Gardner said the goal is to reach 70 per cent of the general population.

That’s doable, he said, because the flu vaccine reaches 40 per cent of the population in six weeks.

“If we could do that it would be fantastic.”

And while some reports state many Canadians are still cautious about early inoculation, he recommends it and says he hasn’t heard of any early reports locally of pushback by health-care workers.

And he doubts any “legal” government requirements would come in to place to force optional opt in. He said most health care institutions have their own policies on such matters.

Closing on a positive note, Gardner indicated the Pfizer distribution through RVH is going well and that they are actually maximizing dosage use.

The expected five shots are now — with help of small syringes — allowing staff to get an extra injection out of each vial.

And he said that there has been very little spoilage — about four doses.

If needed, he said they can quickly call upon more health-care workers to come in to be inoculated to avoid disposing of unused vaccine.

Email mark@muskokatoday.com or news@muskokatoday.com

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