If you are one of those parents who have trouble finding a COVID-19 vaccine for your baby or preschooler, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit wants you to know there is no shortage of shots in the region.
Over the past few weeks, WindsorNewsToday.ca and the health unit have heard stories about people having difficulty accessing pediatric doses for children under five.
In the first media update on COVID-19 since June, CEO Nicole Dupuis said the region has enough to go around, but there are not as many pharmacies in the community offering it.
"They may not be as widely available across the community as the adult vaccinations. Not as many healthcare providers and pharmacists are participating in delivering the vaccine," she explained. "But there definitely are pharmacies that are."
As of last week, only 0.6 per cent of children under five had had their vaccination. The percentage was better for those five to 11, 41.7 per cent, and 79.6 per cent of teens 12 and older had had at least one shot.
Dupuis said a list of participating pharmacies and pop-up clinics in the region are on the health unit's webpage.
"There are opportunities for those having difficulties to call the health unit. We will help them navigate to a place to make an appointment," she continued. "On a minimal basis, we are also vaccinating individuals within our office for a pediatric appointment."
Acting Medical Officer of Health Doctor Shanker Nesathurai said the health unit decided to resume weekly updates with the media after receiving several inquiries in recent weeks about COVID-19, monkeypox, and the possible suspension of local students who are not yet up to date on their immunizations.
As of Monday, Ontario reported 529 cases of monkeypox, while the Public Health Agency of Canada said there were 1,112 across the country.
At least one case was reported in Windsor-Essex, but Nesathurai refused to comment on others in the region. He did tell reporters the burden of illness because of the virus was increasing in the community.
Dupuis said more than 100 people were vaccinated against monkeypox at a recent clinic held during Windsor-Essex Pride.
As for how many students face suspension because their immunization records are up to date, Dupuis didn't have the latest total but said the number was falling consistently.
Earlier this month, the health unit sent notices to the parents and caregivers of 7,858 students.
