Smaller communities in our region are fueling the Porcupine Health Unit’s COVID-19 vaccination rates. Three quarters of the population in Smooth Rock Falls and 67 per cent of Hearst residents have at least one dose of vaccine. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lianne Catton says she’s seeing an impact.
“Very clearly demonstrates that our vaccination rates increase with increasing age, and our case rates decrease with increasing age,” she said. “This is not just a coincidence.”
However, those vaccine percentages are much different in larger communities. Timmins leads the way at just over 56 per cent, followed by Kapuskasing at 51.3 and then Cochrane at 47.4 per cent.
Catton says some of the data is still missing.
“Over 65 per cent of the adults over the age of 18 have been vaccinated across the Porcupine Health Unit’s area,” she added. “Again, however, still unfortunately not including Moosonee or operation remote immunity numbers but we will end up getting those at some point.”
Here is a look at the breakdown by community:
Percentage of Population with at least one vaccine dose:
Cochrane — 47.4
Hearst — 67.1
Hornepayne — 56.5
Iroquois Falls — 57.6
Kapuskasing — 51.3
Matheson — 44.6
Smooth Rock Falls — 75.4
Timmins — 56.2
