The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is ready to give out COVID-19 booster shots to those who need them.
Following the announcement from the provincial government that third dose eligibility would be expanding, the health unit announced all individuals who received their second dose at least six months ago and are in the groups specified below will be eligible to book their booster shots.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends the third dose for those with waning protection against COVID-19 and are at risk of severe illness. It suggests a booster for those over the age of 70, those who got the AstraZeneca, Covishield, or Janssen vaccine, frontline healthcare workers, the Indigenous, and those with a chronic illness.
CEO Nicole Dupuis said the province asked public health units across Ontario to prepare a plan for the fall, including vaccinating children five to 11 and for third booster shots.
"We've continued our mass vaccination site, so that'll certainly be a big part of our rollout plan. We have a lot of capacity within that clinic," she said, referring to the clinic in the former Sears store at Devonshire Mall.
The health unit has also maintained partnerships with Essex Windsor EMS, Windsor Regional Hospital, Erie Shores Healthcare, and the region's legion of primary care providers.
Appointments can be booked through the online booking system or by calling 226-773-2200. Appointments can also be made through primary health care providers and pharmacies.
"We'll use our online booking system, as we have in the past. Those that have already received a vaccination will be familiar with the process," said Dupuis. "We do have our booking call centre as well. The number hasn't changed, and individuals can call if they need greater assistance."
Recently, the health unit reached out to those who have not received even one dose of the vaccine. Dupuis said the province assisted that effort. There are currently 55,000 residents over the age of 12 who are not vaccinated.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Doctor Shanker Nesathurai said Windsor-Essex's vaccination rate lags behind the provincial average and other public health units.
"It's still a lot of people, and we know that the people who are most likely to be hospitalized and getting sick are those who are unvaccinated," said Nesathurai. "I still think it's a challenge and something we have to put our public health energies on."
Public health officials reported 20 new cases of the virus on Wednesday. Community transmission accounts for nine, while six were from close contact with another confirmed case, and five are still under investigation.
There are also 183 active cases. One-hundred of those involve a variant of concern.
Three of the region's 11 outbreaks are at schools. Those are Princess Elizabeth Public School, Vincent Massey Secondary School, and Ecole Elementaire Catholique Saint-Jean Baptiste.
Provincially, 378 new cases were reported on Wednesday, along with five new deaths. There's 3,093 active cases across Ontario.
