Latest COVID-19 Update
Situation Update
Great news! Our situation in Peel Region is continuing to improve. For a fourth week in a row, Peel’s incidence rate has declined to 176.9 per 100,000 population. Incidence has declined in all three municipalities. Our seven-day moving average is 365 new cases, down from 495 last week. Percent positivity declined to 11.5%, with positivity rates less than 10% for those 50+ years of age. Public Health is currently contacting 91% of cases within 24 hours for case and contact management.
There are continued small improvements on the healthcare system as well, with 11 admissions per day and 134 currently admitted. Critical care is currently at 82% of our Wave 3 peak and continues to be challenged due to the longer length of stay associated with VOC cases.
Vaccine Update
Vaccinations and Vaccine Allotment
As of May 27, 1,062,303 doses have been administered in Peel and 69% of Peel residents aged 18+ have received at least one dose. This, and other data, is available on the COVID-19 Vaccine Status tab on our dashboard.
To date, Peel has received 1,108,165 doses, which represents 11% of the total provincial allocation. For the week of May 24, we received 3,150 doses, in addition to an early shipment of 66,690. For the week of May 31, we expect to receive 79,560 doses, which represents 7% of the weekly provincial allocation.
Eligibility – Second Doses at a Shortened Interval
The Province has announced they are accelerating second doses for all Ontarians now that 65% of the Ontario adult population has received their first dose. While the interval between first and second doses can be up to 16 weeks, Ontario will begin to offer second dose appointments earlier than four weeks, based on availability of vaccines. The shortened dose could be as short as 28 days depending on local vaccine supply and appointment availability.
Eligibility to book a second dose at a shortened interval will begin the week of May 31 for individuals aged 80+, followed by individuals aged 70+ the week of June 14. Subsequent groups will be eligible to book a second dose at a shortened interval based on ‘first-in, first-out’ basis, with the exception of individuals aged 12 to 25, who are eligible the week of August 9 to 16.
Starting Monday, May 31, Peel residents aged 80+ who received their first dose at a Peel Public Health vaccination clinic can visit the provincial website or call the provincial booking line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007). Eligible residents can also call the Region of Peel COVID-19 Vaccination Line at 905-791-5202, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 7 days a week to re-book their appointment.
Most Peel residents aged 80+ received their first dose at hospital clinics. Information on shortened interval second dose booking is available online for individuals who received their first dose at William Osler Health System or Trillium Health Partners.
Residents are encouraged to get their second dose at the same location as their first dose and are reminded that it must be the same vaccine type. If residents are unable to attend the same location as their first dose, other options include primary care providers and pharmacies. Once residents have a new second dose appointment, they are encouraged to cancel their original appointment.
Second doses of COVID-19 vaccines at a shortened interval has already begun for certain groups, including high-risk health care workers, individuals with certain health conditions and First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals and their household members.
Please be patient, as appointments for second doses at the shortened interval will be phased in as per the provincial schedule and in alignment with the vaccine supply.
Clinics
We are continuing our efforts to not leave anyone behind by offering a variety of vaccination options across the system to remove barriers and reach our vulnerable residents and communities with lower vaccine uptake. This work is being done in conjunction with numerous community partners.
Community Clinics – Mobile and Pop-ups
The province and the Red Cross have partnered to deliver several new community pop-up vaccination clinics in Peel. These clinics will run from 2 to 14 days in late-May and early-June and will serve individuals aged 12+. Daily doses at the clinics range from 300 to 600.
Update to Dashboard
Peel Public Health is pleased to launch a new vaccine mapping dashboard that provides geography-based information on vaccine uptake across Peel. The dashboard currently includes information on one dose uptake of COVID-19 vaccine across forward sortation areas (FSA) and by age. Second dose uptake will be included as future enhancements.
As we move into our next phase of the vaccine rollout, these data will help focus on areas across Peel that require targeted approaches to increase uptake.
Transportation Assistance Program Update
As part of Peel’s Transportation Assistance Program, which aims to remove transportation barriers to getting vaccinated, the Region has expanded TransHelp by eliminating the 65+ age eligibility so that any resident experiencing transportation barriers to getting vaccinated is eligible. TransHelp is free of charge and residents don’t need to be a TransHelp client to use this service. Residents can call 905-791-1015 at least 48 hours before their appointment to book.
The MiWay six-week pilot shuttle that provided non-stop service from Mississauga’s City Centre Transit Terminal to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre Sportsplex Vaccination Clinic is ending on May 30. This pilot project ran from April 19 to May 30, 2021. Over the course of six weeks, the shuttle provided 528 one-way trips. Residents who experience transportation barriers to attending any vaccination clinic in Peel are encouraged to use TransHelp.
The shortening of second doses for some of Peel’s most vulnerable residents is good news and will begin the journey of even greater protection for the community.
