The top health official in Chatham-Kent says he's more optimistic than ever that COVID-19 will be wiped out in the region by the end of the summer.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby made the comments during the local Board of Health meeting on Wednesday.
Colby also anticipates everyone can be boosted with a second dose very soon.
"My optimism that we can get this licked by the end of the summer has never been stronger," said Colby. "Vaccination is our key to delivering us from all of this and I can honestly say that we are seeing the results, even though we have not achieved herd immunity yet. The virus can still find people but it's getting harder and harder and harder, which means the infection will die out."
The doctor said it's evident that vaccines work and vaccination efforts must continue to get the economy fully reopened. He also said first doses should be complete by the end of June and the mass vaccination clinic at the Bradley Centre in Chatham will close soon as the vaccination rollout enters Phase 3. Colby noted that primary care physicians will take over the vaccination task.
"It's very important that we keep working on that vaccinated number because a lot more things open up to a more normal existence like personal care in Step 2 [of Ontario's reopening plan]," he added.
Colby estimates Step 2 of the reopening plan will begin in early July, if everything goes well.
Dr. Colby also admitted that the vaccination rate in Chatham-Kent lags behind the province because vaccines were diverted to hot spots in the Toronto area to deal with surges. He said the province has promised that future vaccine allocations will catch up the area to the province.
On Wednesday, Chatham-Kent Public Health reported an estimated 66 per cent of the local population 12 years of age and older have received at least one dose and 16 per cent have gotten two doses. Colby noted that 69 per cent of those 18 and older have received at least one dose. The province reported 75 per cent of that segment have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Colby also noted that the AstraZeneca supply has been uneven and unreliable.
He's also very happy with the low number of active cases in the area. Chatham-Kent Public Health reported seven active cases on Wednesday.