Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Looking to get ahead of a projected fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, KFLA Public Health is implementing a ‘ground game’ mobile vaccination strategy.
That includes a series of pop up clinics that are taking place across the region over the next couple of days: at Springside Park in Napanee this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Odessa Public school from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, as well as several in Kingston, including Vaccinapalooza on Saturday at BGC Robert Meek Community Centre at 559 Bagot St. Open to anyone 12 and older for a first or second dose, the event will feature free games, food and music.
Friday also marked the debut of the Green Vaccine Machine-a City of Kingston electric transit bus that has been transformed into a mobile vaccine clinic. The bus was parked outside Amherstview’s Trinity Presbyterian Church from noon until 4 p.m. and will be seen throughout the region over the coming weeks.
A complete list of mobile pop ups can be found at https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/covid-19-vaccine.aspx.
Speaking with local media on Friday, KFLA Public Health’s interim Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hugh Guan urged residents to roll up their sleeve and get their shot.
“There are rising cases (of COVID-19 across Ontario), therefor we might be on the cusp of our fourth wave,” said Guan. “As a result I strongly urge folks for those that are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated to please get your vaccinations. We know that vaccinations work and they’re very effective. Some of the provincial data across the province shows that for those who are unvaccinated, they are 10 times greater risk for getting COVID-19 and about 50 times greater to be sick enough to then be admitted to the ICU. Just based off these risks, we can really see that vaccines work and they are very effective for preventing COVID as well as the serious complications from COVID.”
Guan said the region continues to have a good vaccine rate, with over 82 per cent of those age 12 and over with at least one dose while 75 per cent are double vaccinated.
“(Getting to 75 per cent) was one of the provincial step targets, so that’s a good milestone to hit for vaccinations,” said Guan.
KFLA’s COVID-19 dashboard will soon be updated to show the rate of new COVID-19 infections in those who are unvaccinated compared to those that are.
“What we want to do is show rates, since they are better reflective of the picture,” said Guan when asked about whether any dashboard updates would be coming. “So what is the risk locally, how many folks who are unvaccinated who have COVID per the total unvaccinated population and how many people who have COVID who are fully vaccinated in all of the vaccinated population and compare those two because that’s a better context and a better representation of the truth.”
In updating the current case count in the region, Guan noted there were two new cases of COVID-19 reported on Friday, offset by two recoveries to keep the active total at 11. Heading into the weekend there were no cases of COVID-19 requiring a stay in a local hospital.