Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) Public Health has confirmed that local COVID-19 vaccinations are outpacing the provincial and national averages.
Danny Williamson, communication specialist for WDG Public Health, said the goal of the program is to have at least 75 per cent of the region vaccinated by August 2021.
“We’ve hit 2.5 per cent, so that’s about just under 6,500 people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” Williamson said.
Williamson said they were not amongst the first regions to get a shipment of the COVID-19 vaccines in the province, but they’ve really pulled out all the stops to ensure that between them and the many partners involved, that they’re moving needles into arms as quickly as possible.
The organization is following the province’s framework for vaccine distribution.
“So, that started with our long-term care and retirement homes, and that was staff, residents, and essential care givers,” Williamson said. “So, some of those folks are still getting vaccinated, but that portion of our vaccination program is largely complete.”
He said they have moved on to vaccinating residents of the region who are 80-years-old and older, as well as higher risk health care workers.
“Public health has vaccinated just a bit more than 56 per cent of adults over 80 in our region,” Williamson said. “Some of that number does include folks who are over 80 who live in long-term care, so it is a bit of a mix of the community based over 80 age group, as well as some of those long-term care folks, but it is great.”
Williamson said they have built their own pre-registration system, which has really let people make sure they have their correct contact details, so when their priority group comes up, they’re able to contact public health and book their appointment.
He added that vaccination efforts are currently focused on adults over 80, Indigenous adults, seniors who live in congregate settings, as well as a number of different healthcare workers.
Danny Williamson, communication specialist for WDG Public Health: