Leadership with the Northwestern Health Unit is reporting that since August 1, those without COVID-19 vaccinations have been six times more likely to contract the illness, compared to those who are fully vaccinated in northwestern Ontario.
“In addition, provincially, unvaccinated people are 24 times more likely to be hospitalized and 43 times more likely to be in the Intensive Care Unit,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health with the Northwestern Health Unit, Dr. Kit Young Hoon, during her weekly conference with regional media members.
As of September 27, the NWHU is reporting administering over 121,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in their catchment area, and Young Hoon says vaccination rates are continuing to increase in the area.
Overall, nearly 86 per cent of residents have received their first dose, around the same as Ontario’s rate for first doses, and nearly 78 per cent have received their second dose. That’s just shy of Ontario’s rate of over 79 per cent for second doses.
As of September 24, Ontario reported a total of 727 new COVID-19 cases across the province, which includes 447 unvaccinated residents, 56 people who are partially vaccinated, 170 people who have received both doses of the vaccine, and 54 people with an unknown status.