Waterloo region's COVID booster rate lags behind national average

The number of people in Waterloo region who have received their most recent COVID-19 booster shot is just under 11 per cent, which is below the national average.

The region's vaccination dashboard shows 10.9 per cent of people in the community are up-to-date on their vaccinations as of Dec. 7. The region notes "up to date" means a person has completed their primary series and received a booster dose within the previous six months.

The number of people who have received the updated XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine sits at 10.8 per cent, the region told CBC News in an email.

An additional dose is recommended for 71 per cent of the population in Waterloo region.

That percentage jumps for people between the ages of 18 and 50, where more than 80 per cent of those age groups are eligible for an additional dose, the dashboard shows.

"When considering the rate of vaccination for the updated version of the vaccine, it is important to be aware that many individuals may not have been eligible to receive it, due to a previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection within the 3-6 months prior to its release," public health said in a statement.

'People just aren't getting the message'

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health reports 14.3 per cent of people are up-to-date on the COVID-19 vaccine, which is more in line with the national rate. Federal figures show 15 per cent of the population aged five and up had received an updated vaccine by Dec. 3.

Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious diseases specialist with Sinai Health in Toronto, told CBC News says she thinks people are not getting their booster doses "because people just aren't getting the message about how much of a risk COVID is."

In Waterloo region, medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang told regional councillors during a Dec. 13 meeting that COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community along with the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

"Local respiratory virus activity in Waterloo region continues to be consistent with provincial trends," Wang said.

"We can increase the protection for ourselves and our loved ones by getting vaccinated for influenza, COVID-19 and, if eligible, RSV. It's not too late to get these vaccines."