MLHU pulls back on plans to vaccinate more youth, as 17 COVID-19 cases reported

Middlesex Centre, Ont. -

The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is rolling back plans to extend vaccination to more youth as 17 new COVID-19 cases were reported Friday.

On Thursday, the health unit announced plans to extend vaccinations to all youth who would be turning 12 this year – so 11-year-olds or those born in 2009 or earlier.

But on Friday morning the MLHU tweeted that it would not be extending vaccinations to those who are not yet 12.

MLHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie explained to CTV News London they're pausing the plan based on advice from national and provincial health officials.

"Based on where things are at in terms of the approval process from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, the Chief Medical Officer of Health (for Ontario) asked us to hold on vaccinating anyone under 12 for now so that’s what we’re doing."

Mackie added that it affects a relatively small group, and is just a short holdup that does not reflect any additional issues.

"This affects about 2,000 young people in Middlesex and London, but again it’s just a delay, those folks will still get their vaccines, it will just be a little bit later now...I need to be clear that this is not related to any concerns about safety or effectiveness, there have been no events of any concern in this population."

Until Friday, counts had continued to hold under 15 daily cases since June 16 when 26 cases were reported. There have been no deaths in the region since July 30.

The region now has a total of 12,916 cases and 231 deaths, with 12,602 cases resolved leaving 83 active. There are now 3,663 cases with a variant of concern, including 156 of the Delta variant.

Of the cases reported since June 25, just over 91 per cent are among those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. There have also been no deaths or hospitalizations among the fully vaccinated.

The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is caring for six inpatients with COVID-19 with fewer than five in critical care.

An outbreak at the Pond Mills Children's Centre has been declared over.

REGIONAL COVID-19 COUNTS

Here are the most recently available numbers from other local public health authorities:

• Elgin-Oxford – six new, 27 active, 4,013 total, 3,902 resolved, 84 deaths, 924 variants
• Grey-Bruce – 45 active, 2,193 total, 2,124 resolved, 20 deaths
• Haldimand-Norfolk – two new, 13 active, 2,760 total, 2,693 resolved, 48 deaths
• Huron-Perth – two new, 15 active, 1,963 total, 1,891 resolved, 57 deaths, 363 variants
• Sarnia-Lambton – three new, seven active, 3,647 total, 3,572 resolved, 68 deaths, 689 variants

Ontario health officials logged 510 new cases Friday, the second day in a row the province has topped 500.