Double vaccination urged as COVID-19 Delta variant cases rise in London-Middlesex
Local vaccination efforts will shift into high gear after four new cases of the COVID-19 delta variant were confirmed by lab results today.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit held an unscheduled news conference shortly after being notified.
“The Delta variant, first identified in India, is more transmissible and appears to lead to more people in hospital,” explained Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Alex Summers.
Dr. Summers warned it will become the dominant strain in Ontario by the end of this month and could ignite a resurgence of cases.
It takes laboratories time to takes time to identify variants, so the four cases are already resolved.
The MLHU’s preliminary review suggests the cases were acquired locally, and the infected were either unvaccinated or had only received a single dose.
Dr. Summers referred to data from the UK that suggests preventing the delta variant requires two doses.
Local vaccination efforts will now shift into high gear.
“The threat to partially vaccinated people is notable,” said Dr. Summers. “There is quite a reduction in vaccine effectiveness against the delta for symptomatic COVID illness.”
As the region enters a race to double-vaccinate against the variant, vaccine availability is soaring.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie says unexpected shipments and over-sized shipments this week have resulted in more opportunities to get shots into arms.
“We have been able already to add 43,000 additional vaccine appointments into our booking system,” Dr. Mackie told the news conference.
“If you don’t have a single dose, go out and get it because it will prevent you from being hospitalized,” added Dr. summers. “The goal for having people double vaccinated is that it works against the delta variant. It works.”
Anyone who received a first dose on or before May 9 can book a second shot now.
On Thursday, the MLHU will determine if that date could move to May 31.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.