RM with lowest vaccination rate encouraging big gatherings

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This article was published 20/08/2021 (1672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba municipality with the lowest vaccination rate in the province is encouraging its residents to gather in big groups at neighbourhood block parties.

The Rural Municipality of Stanley launched a block party program this year, which provides residents with free party packages including invitations, outdoor games kits and coupons for food.

“It is time to get the community together! The RM of Stanley council wants to encourage community building by assisting with neighbourhood block parties!” the brochure reads.

The four-page document includes an application form and hosting requirements, which calls on residents to make a “reasonable attempt” to invite everyone in the neighbourhood.

The brochure includes only a brief mention of COVID-19 and provincial regulations about the pandemic.

Stanley has the lowest COVID-19 immunization rate of any health district in Manitoba. As of Wednesday, 21.8 per cent of eligible residents had their first dose, and just 19.4 had their second. Nearby Winkler has the second-lowest vaccination rate in the province, with 34.5 per cent of residents fully vaccinated. Comparatively, several Manitoba health districts are reporting vaccine rates that exceed 80 per cent.

According to the municipality, interest in the block parties has been strong.

This doesn’t sit well with RM of Stanley resident Ashley Hoitink, who said she was shocked when her husband received the brochure via email on Aug. 9.

“To me, it’s like we’re just pretending the pandemic is over. I don’t know, if I was the lowest-vaccinated RM, I would be sending out emails reminding my community members that they could still get vaccinated,” she told the Free Press Thursday.

“Not, ‘Hey, why don’t you gather when it’s likely given the statistics that a high percentage of you are unvaccinated?’”

Hoitink, a 32-year-old teacher and new mom, said she doesn’t remember the RM advertising block parties in the past, and she believes it’s a pointed message from council to its constituents.

“I think they’re making their point pretty clear if they’re focusing on block parties instead of vaccination rates,” she said.

She’s reached out to the RM of Stanley about the initiative, but hasn’t heard back.

Stanley Reeve Morris Olafson did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Hoitink, who is fully vaccinated, said living in the health district with the lowest immunization rate has been a struggle, particularly as the mother of a six-month-old. She’s constantly afraid of her child being exposed to the virus, especially with the removal of the mask mandate. She won’t risk walking into a grocery store and collects her groceries in Winkler after ordering online.

Hoitink, who is on maternity leave, won’t be teaching again until February.

“It’s been hard to be on maternity leave, and you’re kind of home with your kid all day. You can’t go to mom groups. You can’t just go out and about with your kid…,” she said.

“It gets lonely, for sure. And you’re trying to do what’s the safest option for them.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_

RM of Stanley Block Party Kit