York Region among tops in Ontario vaccine rollout

Yorkregion.com
June 25, 2021
Kim Zarzour

When it comes to vaccination rates, York Region is leading the pack.

In a presentation to regional council June 24, Public Health revealed data showing vaccine rates for first doses is among the highest in Ontario, with more than 77 per cent of eligible adults over 18 having had at least one dose.

Among those with second doses, more than 30 per cent of residents aged 12+ are fully vaccinated, said Katarina Garpenfeldt, the region's chief of vaccine operations.

A record 17,000 individuals get their shots each day, said Dr. Karim Kurji, local medical officer of health.

"I just want to congratulate Dr. Kurji and the whole team. I believe you're doing a darn good job," Vaughan Regional Councillor Linda Jackson said at the council meeting. "We're ahead of everybody."

Demand for earlier second dose appointments currently exceeds the region’s ability to administer them, Kurji said, adding, “I'd like to reassure everyone that the supply remains plentiful."

An additional 38,000 appointments will be available June 25, at 8 a.m., to anyone 12+ who lives, works or goes to school in York Region, to book a first dose. The time slots will also be open to individuals 18+ who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 30 and wants an earlier appointment.

Appointments can be booked at york.ca/Covid19Vaccine

With about 400,000 individuals eligible in this next round, the region is expecting a busy day for the booking system, Garpendfeldt said.

New clinics are coming on board, with a new drive-through site to be located at Emily Carr Secondary School in Woodbridge opening July 11 for six weeks, operating Sundays to Wednesdays, replacing the Canada Wonderland site.

A pop-up location at Father Ermanno Community Centre in Vaughan will continue until July 4.

Pharmacies also have been ramping up their administration of the vaccines to about 4,000 to 5,000 a day he said and primary care physicians are also administering vaccines.

The provincewide delay in Pfizer-BioNTech shipment is not expected to affect vaccine distribution in York Region at this time, but contingency plans are in place should Pfizer supply run low or out, said regional spokesperson Patrick Casey.