Estrie recently passed the milestone of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in the region, but the enthusiasm for the third dose seems to be waning.
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On Monday, 3,400 people received a vaccine in Estrie, well below the daily average which was around 7,000 doses administered per day in January.
Several reasons can explain this decline in interest, including the phenomenon of people who are doubly vaccinated and believe they are fully protected because they nevertheless contracted the disease during the fifth wave.
“The disease, after two doses, has the effect of a booster. We can consider having protection. But according to our information, a third dose is not going to create more side effects. […] It is not a fault to go for one more dose. It’s not a problem!” assured the Director of Public Health in Estrie, Dr. Alain Poirier.
The virus would be four to five times less transmissible in people with three doses. Yet only 58% of the vaccination slots available in February are currently booked.
Public Health is not ruling out the possibility of eventually closing its second vaccination site in Sherbrooke, on Bowen Street, to deploy more staff in the field.
“We are going to start the second dose again in the schools. We are even considering deploying our mobile teams to CEGEPs and universities,” said Jean Delisle, director of the vaccination campaign in Estrie.
Conversely, nine out of ten people aged 65 and over received their third dose in Estrie.
At the same time, we are witnessing a stabilization in the number of hospitalizations, or even a slight decrease. In the region on Monday, 153 patients were hospitalized, including 15 in intensive care.
As part of the “Hands extended to the unvaccinated” campaign announced by Minister Delegate for Health Lionel Carmant a week ago, the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS is currently considering the possibility of sending brigades to certain municipalities and communities in the region where the membership rate remains low or lower.