Daily vaccination rates have flattened in Waterloo region and that's a good thing, official says

The daily COVID-19 vaccination rates in Waterloo region have dropped significantly from earlier in the summer, but that's OK, Vickie Murray says.

"Recently, the trend has flattened at approximately 400 doses per day. I believe that this change in trend for first doses is reflective of our work on outreach," Murray, lead of operations for Waterloo region's COVID-19 vaccine task force, told regional councillors Wednesday night during a council meeting.

By plateauing, it means vaccination rates aren't going down and that means people are still getting their first and second doses, Murray said.

The region's outreach has included pop-up vaccination clinics, home visits and two vaccination buses that stop at various locations around the region. One of the buses is set to stop at20 Albert St. E., in St. Jacobs on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This week, Murraynoted, they had their most successful bus visit yet with 62 people vaccinated and most were people getting their first dose.

Murray says she'd like to see more people get their second dose as soon as possible. People are eligible for a second dose 28 days after their first.

"As vacation season winds down and back-to-school season is upon us, we hope to see more people at vaccine clinics," Murray said.

As of Thursday, there were 84.57 per cent of people in Waterloo region with one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 76.59 per cent with both doses.

On Friday, the region reached 75 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds with their first dose. There were 63 per cent of people in this age group who have both doses.

20 new cases

Region of Waterloo Public Health reported 20 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. There were no new deaths reported.

There were 17 people infectious with the virus in the region's three hospitals. There were also 10 people in the intensive care unit. People in ICU may no longer be infectious with COVID-19, but still required specialized care.

There were four outbreaks:

• One at Nazarene Christian Congregation in Kitchener with 30 cases. Public health has saidanyone who was at the church on Aug. 1 isconsidered a high-risk contact.
• One at a food processor with 10 cases.
• One at Conestoga Lodge retirement home where there were six cases in non-staff members.
• One at Rising Oaks Early Learning St. Brigid with two cases.

Public health measures still important

The region's medical officer of health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, said local COVID-19 case rates are "relatively stable" in the community although case rates across the province are on the rise.

"In our present situation, public health measures remain very important combined with vaccines, to slow the spread of the delta variant," Wang told regional council.

She said all people, including those fully vaccinated, should avoid closed spaces and crowded places, wear a mask and keep a physical distance from others outside their household.

The province released a specific list of people who would be eligible for a third dose of the vaccine, which the region has said would be available to those people right away.

Coun. Jim Erb asked whether shelters for people who are homeless might be included in the list.

Wang said the province and chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore would monitor the data going forward and may recommend a third dose be offered in additional settings.

For the vast majority of people, two doses provides "very strong protection," Wang said.

She added if she saw a need locally for a group to receive the third dose, she would take the data to Moore to have a conversation about that.

This week, the province also expanded vaccine eligibility to anyone born in 2009.

Coun. Karl Kiefer asked when children aged 11 and under can expect to be vaccinated. Wang said the anticipated approval for the vaccine to be used for children will come at end of this year or early next year.

She said there will be a few months when they can't be immunized and the best protection for them is a combination of everyone around them being immunized as well as people following public health measures in the community and in schools.