COVID-19: Leeds, Grenville, Lanark Region Leads Province in Vaccination Rates – Kingston | The Canadian News

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark districts continue to lead the province in overall COVID-19 vaccination rates, and the LGL Health Unit says the community should be grateful for this achievement.

“In Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, currently 97.4 percent have received a first dose, of people 12 years and older, and 93.5 percent have received their second dose,” said Dr. Paula Stewart, Officer Medical Health (MOH).

Currently, 77% of Ontarians have received their first dose and 73.4% have received both doses throughout the province.

Stewart says the achievement couldn’t have been possible without local support partners like the YMCA, which has been offering vaccine clinics and free three-month memberships to people receiving their second dose.

“What the pandemic has really shed light on is, for us to be successful, for communities to be successful, you need collaboration,” says YMCA of Eastern Ontario Executive Director Rob Adams. “So it takes a lot of community partners to perhaps acknowledge that there is a problem and come together with the solution. And I think that’s really what has brought this home. “

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The health unit also wanted to highlight the work of the Brockville Public Library, which continues to support the COVID response by laminating vaccination cards, free of charge.

“I am very proud of how the Brockville community and the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville area have really come together during the pandemic,” says Emily Farrell, executive director of the Brockville library. “There are many different ways that we have all been doing our part to help keep the community safe and support each other. And I’m very proud of that. “

Stewart says the health unit will continue to encourage all eligible individuals to get vaccinated and believes in the possibility of a 100% vaccinated region.

“That’s thanks to our community,” Stewart says. “That’s thanks to each and every one of the people who have presented the vaccine, who have spoken with a neighbor, who have helped with the vaccine clinics. And of that I am really proud.

“I am very proud of our community.”

MINSA’s next goal is to encourage pregnant women to get vaccinated. She wants expectant mothers to know that the vaccine can help protect both the baby and the mother.