File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / vetdoctor)File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / vetdoctor)
Windsor

Second vaccine appointments to be rescheduled

Following the direction of the province, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be extending the time between vaccine doses.

That means the 973 seniors 80 and over who received their first dose last week will have their second dose appointment rescheduled for up to four months from the time of their first dose.

"The first dose is already providing you 92 per cent protection and when more and more people are vaccinated with that level of protection, in general, as a community, as a region, we will be much more prepared to prevent the transmission of the disease," said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed.

Dr. Ahmed said he recognizes that people may be confused or concerned about the change of direction.

"The information is evolving and I understand that they may be getting conflicting messages or are unsure what is happening," said Dr. Ahmed. "That is why it is our job to make sure that we make it easy for them."

Residents of long-term care and retirement homes will continue to get their second dose on schedule.

More confusion is on the horizon with the provincial booking system coming online next week. It is still unclear how the two systems will merge.

'The provincial solution is not necessarily compatible with our rollout at this time, so those conversations are very important because we want to make sure that we immunize our 80+ seniors as quickly as possible," said CEO and Chief Nursing Officer Theresa Marentette.

Dr. Ahmed also indicated once the provincial system comes online and merges with the local system residents in Ontario will be able to book an appointment anywhere in the province.

There are currently 13,613 seniors registered for a vaccine through the WECHU system. To date, 1,300 of those have received the first of the vaccine either at the WFCU Centre in Windsor or the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre in Leamington.

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