With the province’s announcement of a vaccine certificate going into effect later this month, Hastings Prince Edward’s Medical Officer of Health says it seems to have spurred some previously unvaccinated people to get their shot.
Dr. Piotr Oglaza says they did see an increased uptake of people at COVID-19 vaccination clinics late last week.
“So we’re just looking at the Wellness Centre on September 1, we had 197 doses total. And on September 2, we see 535. But then on September 3 we had 325.”
Dr. Oglaza encourages younger residents to get the vaccinations.
He says almost 100% of the local population aged 60 and above are vaccinated but that number drops to about 50% of the 19-39 age group.
Dr. Oglaza adds there have been very few confirmed cases of the virus among the region’s youngest population. Even last year when students were in school, he says there was only one actual case of transmission confirmed from school.
However, he says with kids back in class, that could change.
“It is slightly different with Delta. We’re still monitoring that very, very closely but we have a very powerful tool. We have that immunization available which wasn’t an option even, during the previous waves. So I strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of this powerful tool and use it. Get immunized, anyone who’s eligible.”
Seventy-five percent of local residents aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated while 84% have received one shot.
