COVID vaccination hesitancy has become a problem in southern Ontario with low participation rates.
Health Minister Christine Elliott recently acknowledged concerns over the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, and a preference among some to get a vaccine from their family doctor, are just a few of the reasons the uptake amongst the older age group hasn’t been as fast as the government would have liked.
Dr. Kit Young Hoon is the Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit and says it’s challenging to know the full level of hesitancy in our area.
“Really important for everyone to consider, whose eligible for vaccination, to get vaccinated. Therefore we not only protect ourselves but we protect everyone else around us by ensuring that COVID-19 numbers stay low.”
Dr. Young Hoon says the shots are critical if we want to return to a more normal life.
She notes, “If our vaccination rates are not high enough in our catchment area, then that leaves us vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19 in the fall and then in the next winter season, and that could potentially lead to more public health restrictions.”
Dr. Young Hoon stresses the vaccines are safe and have gone through all required testing.
