Chatham-Kent’s top doctor is more than a little disappointed in Chatham-Kent’s vaccination rates.
Medical Officer Dr. David Colby says the numbers, especially for those under the age of 40, are among the lowest in the province.
“I don’t know how a community that comes together, a small community that can outcompete all of the other communities in Canada and get Boardwalk on the Monopoly board, can turn in with such a dismal response to getting vaccinated,” Dr. Colby says.
As of July 30th, Chatham-Kent’s vaccination rate for those 12-17 sat at 52% for those with one shot and 33% who’ve received both doses.
The numbers increase as the age categories go up, with rates into the 90s for those 60 and older.
“If you’d asked me at 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, and we’re going to see really high vaccination rates here. I do not understand, why we haven’t seen this robust response like we usually do in Chatham-Kent is a real mystery.”
Colby says the vaccines have been proven safe and effective, and fighting COVID-19 has now become a pandemic of the unvaccinated.
New COVID data is expected to be released today after the long weekend.
The province reported 218 infections on Sunday along with two more deaths linked to the virus. No information was released either provincially or locally on the holiday Monday.
As of the last update from Public Health on Friday, there were 19 active cases in Chatham-Kent, and an ongoing outbreak connected with Community Living’s Summer Program.