Despite the province opening up its registration system to residents 75 and older starting Monday, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is not quite ready.
"With the announcement that the province is also moving to 75-plus we're going to have a good look at the scheduling system," said CEO and Chief Nursing Officer Theresa Marentette.
The health unit will be closing its own pre-registration system for the 80-plus population as of 4 p.m. Saturday and launching a new system next week.
"Until we switch to the new process, and we're aiming to get that completed this weekend and then we will announce it. But there will be a period, let's call it a blackout period, where there won't be that ability to access a scheduling system for your appointment," said Marentette.
The new system will be open for those 75 and older in Windsor-Essex. The health unit has still not determined if they will be migrating to the provincial system or using a different online system. An announcement will be made next week.
Staff continue to book appointments for those 80-plus who have already registered. If you or your loved one has not received a call yet the health unit is asking for your patience.
"Anyone who has pre-registered, you will be called. You'll be booked so don't worry, we have everyone still in the system that pre-registered and if they have not been notified yet, they will be," said Marentette.
All people who have been pre-registered will have their first appointment by the end of next week. Any individual who is 80 and over who did not book through the original system will still be able to register through the new booking system once it launches.
The health unit estimates that there are around 15,000 individuals in Windsor-Essex between the ages of 75-80 who will be eligible for the next phase of the vaccine. Some of those will have already received their vaccine through their long-term care or retirement home.
Starting Monday, there will be four vaccine distribution sites operating. The health unit will be operating the sites at the WFCU Centre in Windsor and the Nature Fresh Farms Centre in Leamington. Windsor Regional Hospital will be running the SportsPlex site at St. Clair College and the University of Windsor site in downtown Windsor.
The province also announced today that it would be expanding the vaccine program at pharmacies. Anyone 60 and older will be eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine starting on Monday.
