Grey Bruce’s Medical Officer of Health is calling the current COVID-19 situation in Grey Bruce a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
Dr. Ian Arra explains, “Locally, the vast majority, 285 or 95.6 per cent, of the 298 total cases reported from July 1 to July 15, 2021, were not fully vaccinated.”
Arra notes, “Internationally, it is now identified as the ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’ and the local situation is no different.”
He says, there is additional evidence vaccines prevent the spread COVID-19 and its variants, “Among the unvaccinated population, a single case will, on average, spread the Delta variant to six to nine others. In contrast, there is low probability the virus will spread any further should a vaccinated person acquire an infection,” says Arra.
Arra says “Between July 1st and July 15th, we have seen 26 people enter the hospital. 24 of them are not fully vaccinated. The two who are fully vaacinated, one of them was discharged from the hospital so that is a really good sign, the other person, in my understanding, is recovering.”
He says, “There are heartbreaking stories of people regretting not booking an appointment for loved ones who were then lost to COVID,” he says, “Acting today, by getting the vaccine, will protect you, your family and the community. Not acting can have regrettable consequences. Don’t delay, get the vax. Vaccines protect, regrets don’t.”
Anyone age 12 and over can get the vaccine. Appointments can be made online or by phone, or simply attend any of the current scheduled clinics across Grey Bruce.
Arra says everyone can also help prevent the spread of the virus every day by following the basic precautions of the three W’s: washing hands, watching distance by staying 6 ft apart and wearing a face covering correctly.