The Grey Bruce Health Unit is planning to stop using mass Covid vaccination hubs at the end of this month.
Public Health currently operates mass hubs at Owen Sound District Secondary School in Owen Sound, the P & H Centre in Hanover and the Davidson Centre in Kincardine.
Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra says the region has reached 73 per cent of the eligible population (ages 12 and over) with a first dose and more than 56 per cent with two doses.
He says mass immunization centres have served their purpose and expects around 70 per cent of Grey Bruce will have received both shots by the end of the month when they wrap up to allow the facilities to be returned to community use.
Arra says individuals with second dose appointments scheduled for August or September must re-book. Anyone without an appointment can make one online or by phone, or simply just attend one of the walk-in, pop-up or drive-through vaccine clinics running daily throughout Bruce and Grey counties.
From Aug. 1 onward, vaccines will only be available through the traditional distribution system in Grey Bruce of primary care providers, pharmacies and Public Health.
“It’s much easier and much more preferable protection-wise for the community, for individuals to get their doses in July,” Arra stresses.
A statement from the health unit explains most new Covid cases are identified as unvaccinated individuals and says those people who are immunized are less likely to become infected, and highly unlikely to develop severe disease requiring hospitalization.