09-01-2021, 03:47 PM
(08-23-2021, 01:43 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Our (Canadian) vaccination rate is good by global standards at 73.16% (first dose), but that still leaves about 14% of the population eligible but not vaccinated.
Portugal, on the other hand, has bumped their first-dose percentage from 68.95% to 80.57% (!) in just the last three weeks. Why? How? It appears that the key is the vaccination requirement: inside dining and bars require two vaccinations after 7 PM on Fridays and on weekends/holidays (or a recent PCR test), for example, giving plenty of incentive to get vaccinated.
The Portuguese infection rate is still fairly high but now appears to have stabilized, whereas we are still clearly on the upslope.
So, do we have enough incentives coming up? The Ontario government has only mandated vaccination for hospitals, but the federal government has taken some action -- and private companies are continuing to announce requirements. At times ongoing testing will be accepted (who will pay may vary) but even so the incentive to get vaccinated will be significant.
Will this be enough to get us to 80% of the total population?
So, Ford and Elliott caved, and we're getting vaccine "passports" after all, even if they are not exactly prepared for it quite yet. This list looks much better now:
- Federal government
- Hospitals (employees) and ambulance services
- Air Canada, including passengers
- Porter Airlines, including passengers
- WestJet, including passengers
- Sun Life
- "Big Five" chartered banks
- Most universities and colleges
- Amazon
- Facebook
- Google
- Microsoft
- Twitter
- Live Nation
- Winnipeg Jets
- Toronto Argonauts
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Toronto FC
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Raptors
- Ontario Hockey League
- All indoor dining
- All indoor fitness facilities
- All night clubs, including outdoor areas
- All indoor meeting and conference facilities
- All movie and other theatres
- All casinos and other gaming
- All sporting events
- All concerts and music festivals