Hamilton falling behind on vaccinations compared to provincial rate

Hamilton's vaccination rates are falling behind those of its provincial counterparts, prompting councillors to call for a system requiring proof of vaccination.

The city has seen a "substantial decrease" in shots administered in the past few weeks, according to Melissa Biksa, manager of COVID-19 vaccine for the city.

More than 9,000 doses were doled out each day in July, she said, but the number has since tumbled to around 1,700.

That's left Hamilton lagging behind other Ontario cities such as Waterloo, London, Ottawa and Niagara.

A graph showed to the board of health on Wednesday showed the city is roughly four per cent behind the rest of the province, which has an overall rate of 71.3 per cent of eligible children and adults with at least one dose as of August 4.

Board members responded by questioning what could be done to encouraged people to get a shot, with much of the discussion focused on vaccine passports or documentation. 

"I wonder if the strongest message we can send  to convince people to get vaccinated would be that this community is contemplating a passport," said Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr, adding that it may not be for all public spaces but some such as restaurants.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he also felt some kind of passport is "the path for inspiring more people to get vaccinated."

It's a measure Premier Doug Ford has so far rejected.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province's chief medical officer of health, said not requiring mandatory immunization was a "government decision," but said he believes no door has been "formally closed."

Reporter asks chief medical officer of health why Ontario won't implement vaccine passport

3 years ago

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Dr. Kieran Moore said it's a "government decision not to have mandatory immunization policies," but that no door has been "formally closed."

Meanwhile, the federal government announced Wednesday afternoon that it is working with the provinces and territories to create a proof of vaccination that could be used for international travel.

Hamilton councillors ended their meeting with a vote to push the province to make vaccines mandatory where permitted by law and to set up a kind of vaccine passport program.

Racialized residents, refugees see lower vaccine coverage

Biksa showed a map of four specific areas where in Hamilton where vaccine rates remain low.

Just 55 to 65 per cent of people in central Hamilton and Flamborough have one dose, leaving an estimated 12,000 and 8,500 people, respectively, unvaccinated.

The Red Hill Valley and pockets on the Mountain around the Linc are at 60 to 70 per cent, she said, adding officials estimated 9,00 and 11,000 people in each area haven't had a shot.

Social determinates of health continue to show up as factors in areas with lower vaccine rates, said Biksa.

Higher-income neighbourhoods had roughly 80 per cent coverage at the end of July, while areas with higher rates of poverty were "significantly lower" at 68.4 per cent. Other factors include race and refugee status, she said. 

"The most racialized neighbourhoods in Hamilton have slightly lower vaccine coverage," she said, and "refugees do have a lower vaccine coverage than other immigrant and Canadian-born Hamiltonians."

City turning to 'hyper-local' clinics

The lower vaccine rate is a situation public health continues to "really wrestle with," said Dr. Ninh Tran, associate medical officer of health.

Areas such as Toronto and Peel had access to a proportionally higher number of vaccines during the peak of the third wave, when concern was high and there were more limits on the kinds of things people could do which may have pushed more people to get vaccinated, said Tran as one explanation for Hamilton's lower rate.

He also pointed to feedback from unvaccinated Hamiltonians that revealed two main barriers: a lack of confidence and outstanding questions around vaccines, as well as access to appointments.

The city plans to get more shots in arms through a "last-mile strategy."

It will be built around community outreach, support such as bus tickets and translation services and "hyper-local, low-to-no-barrier clinics" by going to the areas with the most need.

Staff are also looking at offering on-site shots at schools.

City lags in shots for youth

Hamilton's vaccine rate with at least one dose is particularly low in the 12-to-17-year-old range with 66.7 per cent. Waterloo and London have a rates around 74 and 76 per cent respectively and Ottawa has hit more than 81 per cent, according to the graph.

Michelle Baird, the city's director of epidemiology, wellness and communicable disease control, said health officials have "concerns" about that low figure, especially as students prepare to return to class next month.

While it's past the point where someone currently unvaccinated would be considered fully vaccinated by the first day of school, getting a shot is one of the most important things someone 12 and over can do to protect younger students, she added.