QUEEN’S PARK — MPP Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to the new Science Table modelling:
“The Premier’s plan to increase vaccine uptake in Ontario is falling flat.
The Science Table modelling is clear: full vaccination rates have to accelerate substantially above 85% of the eligible population to avoid another lockdown.
Unvaccinated people have a 6-fold higher risk of symptomatic COVID-19 disease, a 30-fold higher risk of being in the hospital and 48-fold higher risk of being in the ICU compared to fully vaccinated Ontarians.
The data speaks for itself. To avoid the worst impacts of the fourth wave, we have to do everything to increase vaccine uptake.
But currently we have a bare minimum vaccine certificate, non-mandatory vaccines for health care and education workers, and an ineffective last mile strategy to reach the vaccine hesitant and break down barriers.
The Premier needs to:
- Improve the vaccine certificate to be more comprehensive, clear and enforceable
- Mandate vaccinations for health care and education workers to protect the most high-risk
- Provide paid time off to travel to and receive a vaccine and paid time off to recover from side effects
- Implement a plan to go door-to-door in high-risk neighborhoods, launch a mass awareness campaign to tackle vaccine hesitancy, use family doctors to advise on and administer vaccines, and run more clinics in workplaces and schools”