One million and counting.
The Middlesex Health Unit has announced that the one millionth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in London and Middlesex County was given on Wednesday.
The vaccine milestone came one year and 20 days after a Komoka long-term care home nurse and administrator became the first person in the region to get the shot.
Since that day on December 23, 2020, an average of 2,597 doses of the vaccine have made it into arms locally on a daily basis. The million doses were administered at various settings throughout the city and county, including at mass vaccination clinics, hospitals, long-term care homes, mobile pop-up clinics, pharmacies, and workplaces.
“This is an astounding achievement, not only because of the sheer number of vaccine doses that have been given, but more importantly the enthusiasm we’ve seen from community members who have rolled up their sleeves over the last year,” Dr. Alex Summers, the region’s acting medical officer of health, said in a statement. “Being vaccinated remains the best way to prevent serious illness resulting from exposure to COVID-19 and we hope to see even more people get protected.”
According to the health unit, more than 91.9 per cent of area residents aged 12 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 89.5 per cent have been given two doses. Just over 50 per cent of kids aged 5 to 11 have received their first dose since the vaccine was approved for that age group late last year.
The health unit stated that because shots are being given at multiple settings in the community it cannot specify who received the one millionth dose or at what location it was given.
The various vaccination clinics, which administer first, second, and third doses, have been run in partnership between the health unit, the City of London, the County of Middlesex, the London Health Sciences Centre, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service, Thames Valley Family Health Team, primary care, and pharmacies.
Vaccination appointments for first, second, and third doses for those still in need can be booked online at www.covidvaccinelm.ca. The Middlesex-London Paramedic Service mobile vaccination clinic has 11 stopped planned between Thursday and the end of the month. To see the full list of upcoming mobile clinics click here.
