Ontario's wealthiest zones get head start on second doses, data shows
A major push is under way to get vaccines to those more at risk as the Delta variant spreads through parts of Ontario, but new data shows that some of the people who are most in need appear to be falling behind.
Despite strategies to make sure vulnerable communities get more vaccines first, data shows that wealthier postal codes appear to be sprinting ahead, leaving poorer and more racialized communities playing catch-up.
“Immunization coverage isn’t what it ought to be,” said Dr. Akwatu Khenti of the Black Scientists’ Task Force on Vaccine Equity. “We need to amplify the efforts to protect this population that is at risk.”
In order to combat the spread of the Delta variant, Ontario prioritized several regions to receive more second doses, including Toronto, Peel Region, Halton and York Region.
“We know, from our experts, they say the rate of transmission is higher, and the impacts on hospitalization is higher than the UK variant,” Ontario’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. David Williams, told reporter Monday.
The independent research organization ICES breaks down the vaccination rates and COVID-19 spread by postal code. For the first time last week, the agency reported out statistics on second doses of vaccines as of June 7, 2021.
Among the targeted regions, wealthier postal codes appear to have a head start: the farthest ahead is the postal code zone of M5P that includes parts of Forest Hill, at 17.55 per cent fully vaccinated.
Farthest behind includes M3N, which includes the area around Jane and Finch, at 4.97 per cent, and M9V, the area that includes Rexdale, sits at 4.58 per cent.
Those areas include racialized people, poorer people, and people who may be at greater risk in the first place, said Dr. David Burt of the Black Scientists’ Task Force on Vaccine Equity.
“Many are in the service industry, they can’t work from home, they have to take public transit, they have to work in the health-care sector,” Dr. Burt said.
The picture is similar to the inequity of the first stage of the vaccine rollout, and those who got their first doses first are now eligible earlier for their second doses.
Toronto’s Sprint Strategy is targeting certain areas to undo the imbalance, and other pop-up clinics like ones operated by the Scarborough Health Network are targeting people who live and work in certain high-risk postal codes.
A pop-up at Agincourt Collegiate Institute on Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. will give second doses of Pfizer to people in the M1B, M1G, M1J and M1S postal codes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.