(Photo 182143190 © Ballok Beata | Dreamstime.com)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Medicine Hat above provincial vaccination rate

May 17, 2021 | 9:33 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The number of Hatters choosing to get vaccinated is above the provincial average. That’s according to Merrick Brown, the city’s director of emergency management who provided an update at Monday’s city council meeting.

Across the province, 42.2 per cent of Albertans have received their first dose of the vaccine. Locally In Medicine Hat, 47.3 per cent of residents have received their first dose.

Rates of immunization were further broken down into five age categories.

The age range that saw Hatters take the biggest lead over the provincial average was in the 12 to 19 category. Immunization rates for the city are over double the provincial rate. In Medicine Hat, 39 per cent of youth in that age category are vaccinated. That’s compared to just 16 per cent, which is the provincial average.

“ That’s a considerable difference, I commend our teenagers,” said Merrick Brown the city’s director of emergency management

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

14h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

For seniors 75 and older, the provincial vaccination rate is 85 per cent. In the city, it is 86 per cent, according to Brown.

Vaccination rates were the same both provincially and locally for people ages 60 -74. In that age group, 77 per cent received their first dose.

56 per cent of Albertans ages 40-59 received their first dose. In Medicine Hat, the immunization rate slightly edges the provincial rate at 57 per cent.

For people ages 20- 39, the provincial rate is 33 per cent whereas in Medicine Hat it is at 39 per cent.

Reacting to the data after the meeting, Mayor Ted Clugston said he was pleased to see Medicine Hat exceed the provincial average when it comes to immunization.

“It makes me extremely proud to be the mayor of Medicine Hat,” Mayor Ted Clugston said.

“The can-do attitude of Medicine Hat all through this pandemic, for the majority our cases have been lower per capita than any other municipality in the province and that’s just due to our residents. That’s nobody else. I keep saying it, government can’t save you from a virus you need to save yourself,” he said.

Merrick Brown, the city’s director of emergency management said while Medicine Hat’s vaccination rate provides a lot of hope and optimism, it is equally as important to remain cautious as well.

“As much as we can think that we are doing a really great job, which we are, things can turn very quickly. We can let our guard down, and we have seen how quickly those cases can increase. Both locally and provincially.” Brown said.

The province has stated, that restrictions surrounding indoor and outdoor gatherings could be eased by late July, providing a glimmer of hope for summer events. But Brown said that’s dependent on the adherence to the public health measures and the rate of vaccination.

According to Brown, the rate of vaccination province-wide could reach around 60 to 70 per cent by the end of July if the pace of vaccination remains steady or sees increases.

Local vaccination rates were made publicly available on Monday. They can be accessed on the province’s website.