Once hard-hit by the virus, Scarborough celebrates half-million mark in vaccine doses
Karanjeet Singh rolled up his sleeve Monday for his first COVID-19 vaccine—and with the jab, the Scarborough Vaccine Team marked half a million doses administered.
“We’ve definitely seen an increase in our community’s engagement in this,” said Dr. Mayo Ravichandiran, the emergency room physician who administered the milestone shot.
“In Scarborough we saw the infection rates and positivity rates go from 27 per cent just three months ago in April, to now on par with the community, the Ontario average.”
At the height of the third wave of the virus, 16 of 17 Scarborough postal codes were designated COVID-19 hotspots, but vaccination rates have been a game-changer for hard-hit neighbourhoods.
But the clinic at the Centennial College progress campus, which has vaccinated an average of more than 1,400 people a day, will remain open for several months more as officials push to reach those who haven’t yet had one or both doses.
“Early on, the obstacles were of course getting the vaccine,” said Elizabeth Buller, CEO of the Scarborough Health Network. “And now of course the gap is people who still have concerns, fears about getting vaccinated.”
Ontario health officials reported 119 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, a slight dip from the previous few days.
But infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch warned that case counts would likely rise again now that the province has re-opened more fully.
”There’s still millions and millions of Canadians who are unvaccinated. You can’t be surprised if you give this virus an opportunity to be transmitted, primarily in indoor settings, that it’s ultimately transmitted,” Bogoch said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
LGBTQ2S+ rallies to be held across Canada, billed as largest since marriage equality
Organizations across the country are gearing up for what they describe as the largest LGBTQ2S+ mobilization since the push for marriage equality.