One year ago today, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit announced the first dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 had been administered in the region to a Barrie healthcare worker.
On Dec. 22, 2021 the health unit marked the one-millionth dose of COVID vaccine administered in the region.
Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, announced the milestone today during his weekly media briefing.
"I want to congratulate everybody involved," said Gardner, adding the health unit and its vaccination partners (including primary care providers and pharmacies) have given 1,036,000 doses of a vaccine against COVID-19.
The first shot was given at 29 Sperling Drive, which is a vaccination clinic operated by Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in partnership with the health unit.
The clinic remains in operation, making it the longest standing vaccine administration site in the region.
"To get to that million really required all hands on deck," said Gardner. "It required us to have our mass immunization community clinics in the spring and summer and then again now our multiple community clinics that we have going again."
He thanked the schools, school boards, municipalities, hospitals, primary care providers, paramedic services and hundreds of volunteers who helped bring vaccine clinics to communities across the region.
"I want to commend everybody involved in achieving the milestone of a million vaccinations and having been with us for a year ... thank you to all," said Gardner. "This is going to go on for a long time yet, so I continue to feel gratitude for all who have helped us with this."
As of Dec. 22, 2021, almost 75 per cent of the total population of the region has had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 17 per cent has had three doses.
