68%. This is the proportion of healthcare workers who have so far been vaccinated in hospitals in Quebec, on average. Data deemed encouraging, but still “too weak” by experts. Meanwhile, the AstraZeneca craze is forcing Montreal’s public health to stop its walk-in vaccination campaign for people 45 and over, at least for now.
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According to data from the National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ), going until April 20, 2021, nearly 7 out of 10 workers (67.8%) have already received their first dose of the vaccine in a hospital setting in Quebec. In Nord-du-Québec, more than 80% vaccination coverage has been achieved.
Regarding CHSLDs, this figure is around 63% in the public network, while in private establishments, it is close to 57%. “All of this is relatively positive, and better than I would have thought, but the fact remains that it is still insufficient. A single unvaccinated worker can easily infect several others. We must aim for 100%, especially for those who are in direct contact with patients, ”said Dr.r David Lussier, doctor at the University Institute of Geriatrics (IUGM).
The vaccination rate (69.4%) is highest among home workers. But according to Mr. Lussier, the lack of data is still glaring for many other groups. “For example, we do not know what happens in employment agencies. There is still a lot to do in the network, ”he said.
Geriatrician at the CHUM, the Dr Quoc Nguyen agrees. “Of course we have to go higher. Network workers are in a way the belt between community transmission, which can still explode, and healthcare settings. And we are still seeing outbreaks in certain areas, particularly in Chaudière-Appalaches. You have to reach 80-85%, as in the population elsewhere, ”he says.
In the network, there are still certain barriers, including vaccine hesitancy and fears, but this is gradually diminishing. I think there are also access barriers. It is not everywhere that we vaccinate on the spot, but when we do, we see that the rate goes up a lot.
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The Dr Quoc Nguyen, geriatrician at the CHUM
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The INSPQ, for its part, affirms that its vaccination data will be updated frequently in the coming days. “We are preparing a simplified version which will be published soon on a weekly basis,” assures its spokesperson, Isabelle Girard. In early April, Quebec adopted a ministerial decree ordering that network workers who have not received a first dose of vaccine for at least 14 days or who refuse to provide proof of vaccination must undergo recurrent screening, namely about three times per week.
The walk-in ended
“All establishments in Montreal have used up their doses of AstraZeneca vaccine during the last two days for the walk-in vaccination”, announced the five CIUSSS as well as the McGill University Health Center, in a joint press release released on Friday. .
They nevertheless recall that people who registered online “will still be able to show up at the scheduled time of their appointment” in the coming days. “A dose is reserved for them,” we promise, inviting people to introduce themselves.
The decision was also taken “because of the doses reserved for the population who made an appointment”. “With the appointments confirmed in the next week, more than 20,000 AstraZeneca vaccines will have been administered in the metropolis”, assure the CIUSSS.
“Our goal was really to avoid having citizens frustrated at not being able to be vaccinated by showing up without an appointment this weekend. We also want to avoid bottlenecks. Today, there are people who have come forward that they could not be vaccinated, and we did not want it to happen again on the weekend ”, explained the spokesperson for the CIUSSS Center-Sud, Annie Dufour. .
Whether the walk-in will resume later, Mr.me Dufour remains cautious for the moment. “We will take stock at the start of the week. For now, there will be no more at least until Sunday evening. The rest will depend on the quantities we receive from the Ministry, she raises. The good news is that it was quite a success, and it went well everywhere. ”
For his part, the general manager of the Association of banners and chains of pharmacies of Quebec (ABCPQ), Hugues Mousseau, nevertheless recalls that across Quebec, nearly 300 pharmacies have received doses of vaccines from AstraZeneca. “A few thousand appointments are available at the pharmacy in the coming days for eligible people. You have to visit the Clic Santé portal to make an appointment, ”he says.
Outside of Greater Montreal, however, the walk-in continues in most regions. In particular, the CISSS de la Montérégie-Est will continue to offer vaccination with AstraZeneca to people 45 years of age and over throughout the weekend, including in Boucherville.
Sharp drop in hospitalizations
Meanwhile, on Friday, there were 27 fewer hospitalizations in the network, for a total of 684 people hospitalized. Of that number, 172 are in intensive care, two fewer than the day before.
The number of cases continues to decline rapidly. Quebec reported an additional 1043 on Friday, bringing the daily average calculated over a week to 1230. The trend has thus fallen by 21% for a week.
On the other hand, Quebec has deplored 15 new deaths. These bring the average to 11 per day, which is up from last week. The Quebec City region is particularly hard hit. Of the 15 deaths, 7 occurred in the Capitale-Nationale and 3 in Chaudière-Appalaches. There are also 3 deaths in Montreal and 2 in the Outaouais.
The COVID-19 vaccination campaign continues at an accelerated pace. No less than 90,225 doses were administered Thursday, for a total of 2.7 million, which is a new high. Just over 30% of the population received at least a first dose.
But if we take into account only the 16 years and over, the only ones eligible for vaccination, Quebec should cross this Saturday half of its objective of offering a first dose to 75% of them. Note: 45,261 people have received two doses to date, or 0.5% of the population.
With Pierre-André Normandin, La Presse
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