GUELPH POLITICAST #283 - Still COVID [Summer Edition] with Dr. Mercer

It is time again for another in-depth look at the local pandemic picture: how are we doing, where are we going, and what can we expect next? We’re now almost 18 months into the pandemic, and while normal still sometimes seems far away, there is a perceptible feeling that the worst is over, and there are better days ahead. But are there really better days ahead?

Back in May when we had the last "Still COVID" podcast, those brighter days still seemed so far away. We had yet to even enter phase one of the economic re-opening, case counts were coming down slowly, concern about COVID variants were everywhere, and so were concerns that Canada was lagging behind in vaccine distribution. It’s strange what a difference about 10 weeks can make because we're re-open now, and those vaccines are getting into arms pretty darn fast. 

Still, about 20 per cent of the eligible population that has yet to receive their first dose. Students will be going back to school in a little over a month, and there are still a lot of questions about what that will look like. And while we revel in the re-opening and having a rare restaurant meal indoors again, we have to wonder if COVID will come roaring back with fall and winter? Questions like these require the input of a public health authority, and we’ve got one!

This week, we’re joined again by medical officer of health Dr. Nicola Mercer, who will talk to us about the current state of the vaccine rollout, and how we get first shots to the last 20 per cent. She will also talk about getting ready for back to school, and what the campaign to vaccinate kids under 12 might look like. And finally, Dr. Mercer will discuss the potential impact of COVID this winter, the debate around a third booster shot, and how it might be harder to get back to normal than we think.

So let's talk about our current place in the pandemic with Dr. Mercer on this week's Guelph Politicast!

You can stay up-to-date on the latest COVID case numbers and the vaccine rollout at the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health website. Remember, if you haven’t received you first dose of vaccine, you can now go to any public health clinic and get taken in right away. And if you need to get your second shot, you can now book directly at the Public Health website.

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