Ninety per cent of eligible Mississauga, Brampton residents have at least two doses of vaccine

Mississauga | Brampton | Ontario | COVID | Health | Latest News |

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Published January 25, 2022 at 11:41 am

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Nine in every 10 eligible Mississauga and Brampton residents aged 12 and older have now received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, Peel Public Health (PPH) officials report.

Health officials in Peel say the 90 per cent milestone was just reached in the last several days and it comes on the heels of another important number: three million total doses have been administered across all age groups in Mississauga and Brampton.

By comparison, 87 per cent of Toronto residents have received at least two doses of vaccine.

PPH say the numbers provide “a strong basis for protection against COVID-19 in our community during this time of transition.”

Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel Region’s medical officer of health, said last week that Mississauga, Brampton and the rest of Ontario are now in transition mode with respect to the virus.

Simply put, that means public health efforts are now directed more at preventing serious illness and deaths rather than stopping infections alone, especially given the highly contagious nature of the Omicron variant.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said Omicron presents a very different risk for those protected by vaccination.
“That means, with a highly vaccinated population that typically experiences milder symptoms, our focus should now shift towards preventing serious outcomes rather than infections alone,” she said.

“This means that as our trends start to stabilize, it’s time to look at loosening restrictions and helping get our businesses reopened, which is why I’m encouraging the Ontario government to gradually ease restrictions.”

Loh, meanwhile, applauded Mississauga and Brampton residents for doing their part by getting their shots.

“We are grateful to the residents who have supported our collective efforts to save lives and keep each other safe through the pandemic response,” he said in a statement via press release. “Despite the many challenges and barriers we faced, our community came together through four waves, first staying apart to keep each other safe and then, getting vaccinated. I’d also like to acknowledge the tremendous effort of our staff and all of our partners, without whom reaching these milestones would not be possible.”

Peel health officials say they’re not looking to stop at 90 per cent. Far from it, they say.

To that end, they encourage those yet to be vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.

PPH says residents have hundreds of clinic options to get vaccinated, including:

  • large clinics in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga
  • mobile clinics and “vax vans” in accessible and convenient locations such as malls, workplaces and parks (weather permitting)
  • community clinics in trusted locations such as schools and places of worship, co-designed with community partners
  • primary care and pharmacy clinics
  • in-home vaccinations for those living in long-term care, retirement homes or who cannot get out of their homes

Residents can get their first, second or booster dose at any Peel Clinic, officials say. New clinics are added regularly as community needs are identified and clinics are now delivering both mRNA vaccine products approved for use in Canada.

In addition, Peel will host a second special family clinic and two dedicated clinics for Black, African and Caribbean communities this weekend.

“Vaccination remains the foundation for protection as we continue to face the Omicron variant, and Peel’s vaccine system continues to offer vaccines to residents at locations that best meets their needs,” PPH officials say. “Peel Public Health urges all eligible residents to get their booster ahead of the province’s scheduled reopening plan.”

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