Top Haldimand-Norfolk doc says he's inviting one-on-one calls from vaccine-hesitant residents

Haldimand-Norfolk's medical officer of health says he's eager for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so he's inviting people to call him directly — and "dozens" have taken him up on the offer.

Dr. Matt Strauss said Monday that he's concerned about the area's vaccination rate, which lingers in the bottom half of Ontario health units. Currently, about 85 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated, 2.8 per cent are partially vaccinated and 12.2 per cent haven't been vaccinated at all. Other regions, such as Thunder Bay, have rates as high as 90 per cent.

Seven residents with COVID-19 have died in the last six weeks, including two in the last week. Three of the people who died were vaccinated, but had "terminal" health problems, Strauss said. Four were unvaccinated.

Cases of COVID-19 in Haldimand and Norfolk counties have also "markedly increased" this month, Strauss said. The seven-day average is 11.9 cases, up from 6.9 two weeks ago.

Strauss said he's made a habit of inviting people hesitant about getting vaccinated to call him with their concerns. Dozens have, he said, and some have changed their minds and decided to get vaccinated.

"There is this rubric between 45 and 60 who are really lagging behind [in vaccinations], and those are the folks I really fear will have bad outcomes," he said.

"If you call my office and ask me to call you back to discuss your vaccine hesitancy, I will."

Strauss said he's had "open, understanding, non-judgmental conversations" with dozens of people — noting that the lack of judgment is key. But that's just been "a small part" of getting the word out, he said. The health unit is also distributing pamphlets, making phone calls and answering questions via a hotline.

As of Tuesday, the health unit is rolling out the vaccine for kids aged five to 12, which in the two counties is as many as 11,000 kids.

Sarah Page, who's headed the vaccine rollout for the area, says parents wondering if they should have their kids vaccinated should consult their family doctors, online resources or the health unit's vaccine hotline (519-427-5903, vaccine@hnhss.ca).

Strauss, meanwhile, stopped short Monday of a blanket statement that every child should get vaccinated. Instead, he discussed the details of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendation, saying it's a discretionary recommendation saying children "may" be vaccinated.

"To me, it's a clear statement," he said. "It means individual families, parents and children will have to consider what the risks are."

He said parents with questions should talk to health-care providers, because "I cannot make a blanket recommendation for children I have never met." He then told a story of a friend of his who's a pediatrician who's looking forward to getting his child vaccinated.

Liberal House leader John Fraser, though, said Strauss's comments "sow unnecessary doubt and undermine public confidence."