Earlier last week Bradford's L3Z postal code was listed as one of the province's 'hot spot' communities, with a priority to immunize those ages 50+ in areas of high transmission.
Over the weekend, Mayor Rob Keffer and members of council sent a letter to the region's chief medical officer or health Dr. Charles Gardner expressing their frustration with the lack of vaccine supply for Bradford West Gwillimbury residents.
The letter pointed out that Bradford's vaccine distribution is less than the town's per capita allotment, and requested more vaccines to address the issue.
'We also do not have enough local appointments to keep pace with the demand now that eligibility is extended to those 50+," read part of the letter, "Many of our residents report they are only able to book vaccination appointments in other towns in Simcoe County, despite the stay-at-home order and obvious constraints such travel may provide."
Town council urged Gardner to ensure an increased supply of vaccines and appointments be made available to Bradford residents and suggested a pop-up clinic be added to Bradford District High School, in addition to increasing the capacity of appointments at Bob Fallis Arena.
"We must be mindful that the SMDHU must ensure public confidence, and this can only be done if residents who are being told they are in a hot zone and must book their vaccinations as soon as possible are actually, in fact, able to do so."
All councillors and the mayor signed off on the letter that was sent to Gardner on Saturday, April 10, spearheaded by councillors Raj Sandhu and Jonathan Scott.
"It is completely unacceptable that Bradford only has clinics three days per week and testing only once," said Coun. Jonathan Scott, "That must change."
As of Friday, April 9, Bradford's weekly incidence rate per week was 223 per 100,000. In total Bradford has had 1,377 cases with 1,169 recoveries. There have been 32 deaths, and five people remain in hospital.