Vaccine rates in Renfrew County are going strong, according to the county’s health unit.
The Renfrew County and District Health Unit disclosed the findings in their 2018 annual report released this week. The report says that in Renfrew County and area, vaccination rates exceeded the provincial average in all major forms of vaccines. RCDHU reported that vaccine percentages for diseases like polio, tetanus and measles were over 95%. Provincially, most of these averages hover around 85%. The Unit said in 2018 they held 276 community based immunization clinics and 88 school based ones.
The report also highlights the work done in family planning education, the Unit’s Needle Syringe Program, assessing the needs of youth and the Unit’s handling of Lyme Disease. The RCDHU reports holding over 560 education sessions for parents and over 1800 infant feeding consultations. The Unit’s Needle Syringe Program grew, with over a thousand visits and a 300% increase of needles distributed. The Unit says they also distributed almost 200 naloxone kits. The Unit also worked with the Renfrew County Youth Network to commission a report on the needs of youth in the county. They say that while youth value growing up in the county, they are also concerned with mental health and wellness among younger people, as well as diversity. The report also says that 4 cases of Lyme Disease were confirmed in the county, and 16% of ticks tested were positive for the disease. However, the Unit says that there have not been a single test or case of West Nile Virus in the County in 2018.
The report also touched on the finances of the Unit, with total expenses totaling $8.5 million. Almost 80% of that expenditure came in the form of wages, and was covered by the provincial government.