Ontario Science Table Says Over 85% Of People Must Be Fully Vaxxed To Avoid Lockdown

Ontario's science advisory table says the majority of the population will need to be fully vaccinated to prevent another lockdown this fall, due to concerns over the fourth wave and the Delta variant.

An update issued by the province's Science and Modelling advisory tables on September 1 reports that the fourth wave of COVID-19 will be "substantial." To avoid exceeding ICU capacities and prevent another lockdown, over 85% of eligible Ontarians above the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated.

"We do not expect to see the same proportion of severely ill cases in the vaccinated," the update reads. "Among the unvaccinated, we do expect to see a rapid increase in the number of seriously ill people needing hospital care as workplaces and education re-open in September."

The table also advised reducing contacts to about 70% of pre-pandemic levels until vaccination is high enough to protect the population.

The provincial government's official website states that 77% of Ontario's eligible population is fully vaccinated, with unvaccinated residents making up the vast majority of COVID-related ICU admissions and non-ICU hospital admissions.

"We do not expect to see the same proportion of severely ill cases in the vaccinated. Among the unvaccinated, we do expect to see a rapid increase in the number of seriously ill people needing hospital care as workplaces and education reopen in September," the update adds.