By Cecilia Nasmith
Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking described the multiple focus of their vaccination programming at the October board of health meeting.
“What we are going to see in November, in particular, is a convergence of numerous priorities related to immunization, both COVID-related and non-COVID-related,” Dr. Bocking said.
In the COVID category, on-going efforts are making vaccines available to anyone who has not yet received a first or second shot. They are expecting provincial direction on third doses soon, especially for target groups like Indigenous and First Nation populations, as well as provincial direction on shots for those in the five-to-11 age group.
Their school-based immunization programming has resumed and their flu-immunization efforts are ramping up.
“It has become a bit of a dance among competing priorities,” Dr. Bocking said.
With an eye toward ramping up immunization efforts, up to 30 additional personnel are being recruited to do vaccinations. Hospitals are strapped and limited in how much support they can offer, amid provincial directives to prioritize returning to routine health care.
Provincially, COVID numbers are looking good, Dr. Bocking said - “certainly lower than what modelling had predicted for this time in the fall.”
Enforcement efforts are another area that is ramping up, she added.
“It's more complicated with the addition of regulations associated with proof of vaccination. I think all enforcement partners are finding the details are frustrating for some people in the community, but we need to continue to work together and respect the regulations that are in place,” she urged.
“Only a handful of premises have demonstrated they are not willing to come into compliance with the most recent provincial regulations, and we will continue to follow up with them.”
