Hastings County has thrown its support behind a local letter of concern to the province about the decision to reduce the COVID-19 vaccine supply to this region.
In his letter to Minister of Heath Christine Elliott, Warden Rick Phillips says the decision to reduce the supply by 25% will not only affect the vulnerable population who have yet to receive their vaccination, “it will also put more pressure on an already strained local health care system.”
Phillips says the county supports a previous letter to the province by Medical Officer of Health Dr. Piotr Oglaza who wrote, “The vaccine allocations we are receiving do not align with this increase in rates we are experiencing locally.”
The letter reads in part: “Hastings County Council recognizes the utmost importance of providing vaccines to protect individuals who are most at risk in our region. To further delay our vaccine delivery will not only affect members of our vulnerable populations who have yet to receive their vaccination, it will also put more pressure on an already strained local healthcare system.
We commend HPEPH (Hastings Prince Edward Public Health) for their diligent work in vaccine administration and support their advocacy for maintaining the allotment of vaccines for our region. As Dr. Oglaza explained, “despite the majority of our population following public health precautions, we have seen a staggering increase in infection rates over the past two weeks… The vaccine allocations we are receiving do not align with this increase in rates we are experiencing locally.”
“We all realize that the fight against COVID-19 is at a critical point and maintaining and increasing vaccination rates in Hastings County and Prince Edward County is needed to continue to keep our citizens safe and our healthcare system able to respond to those who require critical lifesaving care. On behalf of Hastings County Council, I urge the Ministry to reconsider their decision to reduce vaccine supply in our region.”
The province recently reallocated a percentage of COVID-19 vaccine from this area to the Toronto area hot spots.
