Province to help Waterloo region get 1st doses of COVID-19 vaccine into arms

The province will nearly double the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses it will make available to Waterloo region in light of high case numbers.

On Thursday, the region reported 67 new cases. Waterloo region has seen high case numbers compared to the rest of the province over the last week.

Those high numbers are believed to be largely due to the spread of the delta variant in the community. The delta variant, also known as B1617, is the variant that was first detected in India.

The delta variant is considered highly transmissible, but health officials say the vaccine is effective at preventing serious illness.

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones says she and Premier Doug Ford have had multiple conversations with regional Chair Karen Redman about the situation in the Waterloo region.

"Ministry of Health and the vaccine taskforce has in fact almost doubled the number of vaccines that are available to Waterloo region because we understand that it is in need of additional doses," Jones said during a media briefing Thursday.

Jones said the region also asked for additional health human resources, "which we have provided."

She said the goal is to get first doses into arms.

"Even one dose gives you very good protection against all variants, including the delta variant," she said.

'100% get vaccinated'

In a separate press conference about a new campus of Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College in Milton, Ont., Premier Doug Ford said "it's all hands on deck" to help Waterloo region with the growing cases.

"I've always said from day one I wouldn't force vaccinations on anyone, but I've been encouraging everyone every step of the way," he said. "One hundred per cent get vaccinated because now, it affects the whole K-W area and it's just not fair to the other people."

When asked whether it was a good idea to take doses away from Waterloo region last month to give to other hot spot regions, like Toronto and Peel, Ford said there is a limited number of vaccines.

"When we had to put them into Toronto and now Kitchener-Waterloo, it affects the rest of the province," he said.

Every dosehas an appointment

As of Thursday, there were 73 per cent of adults 18 and over in Waterloo region who had received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 14.5 per cent have received two doses.

Provincially, more than 75 per cent of adults have a first dose and morethan 18 per cent have both doses.

Shirley Hilton, who leads the region's vaccination taskforce and is a deputy chief with Waterloo regional police, said every dose in the region is used.

"Every vaccine that we have has an appointment attached to it and is accounted for up until the end of this week," Hilton said Wednesday night during the regional board of health meeting.

The region anticipates getting its next allocation of Moderna and Pfizer early next week with an increase of Modernato provide early second doses.

She said the problem doesn't appear to be vaccine hesitancy at this point. Last week, when the region had some extra capacity at the Cambridge clinic on Pinebush Road, the region advertised it and it quickly filled up with same-day appointments.

On June 12 and June 13, there was a pop-up clinic in Waterloo at 99 Regina St. to reach more people who need a second dose.

More pop-ups are planned, Hilton said, including two mobile teams expected to arrive in the region next week to administer vaccines. Where they'll be located is still to be determined.