Melville, Sask. Mayor pleased to hear about high absorption of COVID-19 vaccine | The Canadian News

Melville Mayor Walter Streelasky said he was pleased to hear about the high acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in his community last week.

“I was informed that it was 90 percent (double vaccination) … (information) came from our healthcare providers in our community,” Streelasky said.

“We’re not at 100 yet, but I think we’re the over 85 (percent) kind of range and that’s, I think, very necessary and it’s very satisfying to hear that our community was so supportive of our efforts to overcome the pandemic.”

During a COVID-19 briefing on November 18, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, called for high acceptance of vaccination in Melville.

“This does not do justice to the many, many communities, urban and rural, that have had a high uptake of vaccines. I salute Melville, ”Shahab said.

“We know that about 50 percent of the population is in Regina and Saskatoon. Another may be a significant proportion in large urban centers, (such as Prince Albert), Swift Current Yorkton, Melville, and North Battleford. Many of these regional urban centers also have a high acceptance of vaccination.

“I think it’s really a community effort and I really encourage communities to celebrate their success if they have a high acceptance of the vaccine and that other communities that may have less acceptance may learn from each other … there are many communities that are below 50 percent which is very worrying. “

The mayor doesn’t know exactly why there is a high acceptance in the city of about 5,000 people, but he said his council agreed with the advice of provincial and federal health officials from day one.

“When this first hit our community … we met with the city administration and discussed how we could send positive messages,” Streelasky said.

“In the summer of 2020, as an initiative that I decided to take, we along with the support of the Melville Fire Department… (we had) a float tour throughout the city and we went down every street and avenue.

“There was a huge billboard that said ‘strength for today, hope for tomorrow.’

Streelasky said the community seemed very receptive to his proactive messages.

“Why did this happen. I’m not sure, but I’m very happy that our community supports the fact that vaccinations are a requirement and must be met. That’s probably the only way out, ”Streelasky said.

“I mean, we sat for a long time waiting for a vaccine to be developed and that has happened, and I encourage all citizens to certainly use this vaccine so that we can get through this pandemic and get back to what we consider to be the good times.

“I am very proud of my community that this, that they are supported in that way. I know there are probably still some who choose not to get vaccinated but there has been no demonstration regarding that type of action. “

According to the provincial government dashboard, Saskatchewan had 152 COVID-19 patients in the hospital and the death toll rose by one to 912 on Monday. The province’s seven-day average of new daily infections dropped to 105.

Saskatchewan’s active infections also declined, now at 998.

The total number of vaccines administered in the province is 1,712,677, while 828,300 residents are considered fully vaccinated.

Melville is approximately 140 km northeast of Regina.

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