Starting on Wednesday, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit will not be matching first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Due to current supply strains, the health unit will be offering the Moderna vaccine at the mass vaccination sites to all residents except those aged 12-18 years old.
“Based on the interchangeability of the vaccines and our current vaccine supply, we cannot guarantee a specific mRNA vaccine,” said CEO and Chief Nursing Officer Theresa Marentette. “Locally, our shipment of Pfizer has been delayed and as such we are closely monitoring our supply and will be providing Moderna as the primary vaccine at upcoming clinics. We are no longer in a position to match vaccines for first and second doses.”
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed continues to urge residents to get the first vaccine available to them.
“I want to reassure everyone that vaccine interchangeability recommendations are backed by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Ontario Scientific table and many other experts in the field,” said Dr. Ahmed. “Both these mRNA vaccines are equally safe and equally good in protecting you from the COVID-19 virus and do not put you at any disadvantage. Please do not hesitate to get the mRNA vaccine that is available to you.”
All residents who received an mRNA vaccine on or before May 9 are now eligible to receive a second dose. Appointments at mass vaccination sites can be booked through wevax.ca.
To date, 73.4 per cent of adults have been partially vaccinated and 32.4 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
On Monday, the health unit reported three new cases of COVID-19. There are 63 active cases in the community now and 24 of them involve a variant of concern.
Local hospitals are treating six patients who have tested positive for the virus. There are no COVID-19 patients in the ICU.
The health unit continues to monitor outbreaks at two locations in the region, one workplace and one church.