The Sudbury public health jurisdiction is ahead of the provincial average in terms of the number of local residents who have jabbed with a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the most recent vaccine summary.

The latest vaccine report from Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD), said there have been first dose vaccines given to 150,687 local residents. The summary also said that 138,377 people have been given double doses of the vaccines.

PHSD said this means that 85.8 per cent of the local population over aged 12 have received the first dose, and 78.8 per cent of the population have received the second dose, as of 4 p.m. Sept. 13, 2021.

This compares with the Ontario statistics, which were at 84.4 per cent and 78.1 per cent, respectively, for first and second doses, said the PHSD summary.

This also means there are roughly 15 per cent of local residents (aged 12+) who have not received their first dose.

Also, of the thousands of vaccines given locally, PHSD said 282 “adverse events” have been reported. These are also referred to as AEFIs (adverse events following immunization).

Public Health Ontario said such an event is “an unwanted or unexpected health effect that happens after someone receives a vaccine, which may or may not be caused by the vaccine.”

In the majority of cases, according to Public Health Ontario (PHO), AEFI events are things such as a sore arm, swelling in the injection site, a rash, chills or a headache. PHO said all health care providers are required by law to report such events.

PHO also said there are reactions that do not need to be reported. This can include injection site reactions that last for less than four days; vasovagal syncope (fainting, without injury) or events that are clearly attributed to other causes.

Earlier in the year, there were concerns in some cities in North America about VITT (Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia) and blood clots. PHSD advised back in May there were no incidents of VITT in the local health jurisdiction, or any deaths at all connected to any vaccine adverse events locally.

That is still the case, PHSD said this week.

“Public Health Sudbury and Districts can advise that no deaths to date have been confirmed to be connected with a vaccine adverse event,” said a statement from the PHSD communications office on Wednesday.

“Most of the AEFIs reported to Public Health are not serious in nature and range from unusual events (hair loss, fatigue, etc.) to skin reactions and rashes,” the statement continued.

PHSD also said “More serious events continue to be rare (e.g. myocarditis/pericarditis, thrombosis). Public Health continues to encourage everyone to report any adverse event following any immunization no matter the severity.”