More younger Hatters getting vaccine as mobile units set up

By COLLIN GALLANT on September 10, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Younger Hatters appear to be rolling up their sleeves after a call from city and health officials to get a coronavirus vaccine last month, with more events – including a mobile vaccination bus – planned this weekend.

About 650 residents of the city aged 20 to 39 have been added to localized statistics provided by Alberta Health in three weeks since officials said that age group was increasingly showing up in hospital with more severe cases of the deadly respiratory disease.

Those people having received “at least one shot” moves the rate of local vaccination rate for the demographic from 57% on Aug. 18, to 61% as of Wednesday.

That is still about 8% behind the provincial average for 20-39-year-olds (67.8%), but represents about 30 new people in the age group per day getting the shot in Medicine Hat.

The figure on Wednesday of those in that age group with at least one dose of vaccine was 10,768, out of an estimated 17,740 who have a city address.

On Friday, Medicine Hat College will host a mobile vaccination bus sponsored by the city and the “19 to Zero” coalition of health professionals. On Saturday the mobile clinic will set up at the Family Leisure Centre from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Access is open to anyone over the age of 12 who would like to get the vaccine.

It will visit the Brooks Campus of Medicine Hat College from 9 to 11 a.m. today, then the main campus at Medicine Hat from 1-4 p.m.

That institution cancelled a band and beer garden to welcome first-year students on Thursday, but continued with a food truck rally.

“If you’re eligible and have yet to receive your immunization, please visit the mobile clinic or book an appointment,” said Lesley Tuchscherer, the college’s occupational health and safety manager.

“We are urging everyone who is eligible in our city to please get vaccinated,” said Merrick Brown, the city’s director of emergency management. “It is concerning to everyone in our community to see the increase in active case counts.”

Health officials and local doctors say vaccination is the best way to slow the virus’s spread and to avoid severe symptoms if acquired.

About three quarters of all those age-eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine in Medicine Hat have done so, totalling 43,572 residents older than 12.

That translates to a 73.7% vaccination rate among those eligible, though when those younger than 12 are factored in, the coverage rate falls to 64%.

About 79% of all Albertans older than 12 have received a first shot, while 70.1% are fully vaccinated.