Top Haldimand-Norfolk doc says he's inviting one-on-one calls from vaccine-hesitant residents

Haldimand-Norfolk's medical officer of health says he's eager for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, sohe's inviting people to call him directly and "dozens" have taken him up on the offer.

Dr. Matt Strauss said Monday that he's concerned about the area's vaccination rate, which lingers in the bottom halfof Ontario health units. Currently, about 85 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated, 2.8 per cent are partially vaccinated and 12.2 per cent haven't been vaccinated at all. Other regions, such as Thunder Bay, have rates as high as 90 per cent.

Seven residents with COVID-19 have died in the last six weeks, including two in the last week. Three of the people who died were vaccinated, but had "terminal" health problems, Strauss said. Four were unvaccinated.

Cases ofCOVID-19 in Haldimand and Norfolk counties have also "markedly increased" this month, Strausssaid. The seven-day average is 11.9 cases, up from 6.9 two weeks ago.

Strauss said he's made a habit of inviting people hesitant about getting vaccinatedto call him with their concerns. Dozens have, he said, and some have changed their minds and decided to get vaccinated.

"There is this rubric between 45 and 60 who are really lagging behind [in vaccinations], and those are the folks I really fear will have bad outcomes," he said.

"If you call my office and ask me to call you back to discuss your vaccine hesitancy, I will."

Strauss said he's had "open, understanding, non-judgmental conversations" with dozens of people noting that the lack of judgment is key. But that's just been "a small part" of getting the word out, he said. The health unit is also distributing pamphlets, making phone calls and answering questions via a hotline.

As of Tuesday, the health unit is rolling out the vaccine for kids aged five to 12, which in the two counties is as many as 11,000 kids.

Sarah Page, who's headed the vaccine rolloutfor the area, says parents wondering if they should have their kids vaccinated should consult their family doctors, online resources or the health unit's vaccine hotline (519-427-5903, vaccine@hnhss.ca).

Criticism from Liberal MPP

Strauss, meanwhile, stopped short Monday of a blanket statement that every child should get vaccinated. Instead, he discussed the details of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendation, saying it's adiscretionary recommendationsaying children "may" be vaccinated.

"To me, it's a clear statement," he said. "It means individual families, parents and children will have to consider what the risks are."

He said parents with questions should talk to health-care providers, because "I cannot make a blanket recommendation for children I have never met." He then told a story of a friend of his who's a pediatrician who's looking forward to getting his child vaccinated.

Liberal House leader John Fraser, though, said Strauss's comments "sow unnecessary doubt and undermine public confidence."

"Premier @fordnation & the Chief Medical Officer must step in to remove Haldimand-Norfolk Medical Officer Dr. Strauss," he tweeted.

Fraser has previous criticized Strauss for his Twitter comments, made before his Haldimand-Norfolk appointment, criticizing mask mandates and lockdowns.

Ahead of Hamilton and Brant

As for overall vaccinations, Haldimand-Norfolk is 11th from the bottom in terms of Ontario health units for vaccination rates, but ahead of neighbouring Hamilton (83 per cent with two doses) and Brant (84 per cent).

The two counties have a combined123 active known cases of COVID-19. Fifty-five people have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and 3,164 have recovered.

In Brantford and Brant, by comparison, have48 active cases. Hamilton has 171.

Strauss said he knowspeople are tired of COVID-19 and following the guidelines.

"I want to acknowledge," he said,"that it's been a long year and a half for everyone."