Windsor-Essex residents who got a vaccine outside of the province or country can now officially register with Ontario's system.
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit encourages those residents to provide proof of vaccination through the new online system.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said it's important the region gets a true sense of the vaccination coverage.
"We need that data to have a better risk assessment for the community," said Dr. Ahmed. "If I am under the impression that our vaccine coverage rate is 75 per cent in my region where the rest of the province is at 80, I would consider our region to be at a slightly higher risk."
According to the provincial system, 75.5 per cent of adults in Windsor have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In all of Ontario, that number is 79.2 per cent.
More than 58.4 per cent of adults in Windsor-Essex are now fully vaccinated, while 56 per cent of adults in Ontario have received both doses.
Just over 1,400 people filled out a survey in the spring to inform the health unit they received their vaccine somewhere else. These individuals are being asked to officially register with the new system to be a part of the official coverage rate in the region.
"We do feel that at least a two to three per cent uptick will happen once we include that data in our numbers," said Dr. Ahmed.
Vaccination rates are one of the key indicators the provincial government is using in its roadmap to reopening. The province will move into Step 3 on Friday and remain there until at least 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over receive at least one dose of a vaccine, and 75 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
