Vaccination begins for special-education workers, others at risk
Phase 2 of Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is well underway in Windsor-essex with thousands of people with high-risk medical conditions already vaccinated and appointments booked for nearly 2,000 special education workers.
Since Phase 2 of the Ontario government's vaccine distribution plan began on April 6, the Windsor-essex County Health Unit and Windsor Regional Hospital have been working with primary care providers to identify those with specific medical conditions that put them at significant risk of developing severe illness or dying if they catch COVID-19 and having them inoculated at mass vaccination clinics. Categorized by the province as “highest-risk” and “high-risk,” those individuals include organ transplant recipients, hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, and people with kidney disease, obesity, and intellectual or developmental disabilities, among other things.
“We are vaccinating and have vaccinated a lot — like thousands of people with those medical conditions,” said health unit CEO Theresa Marentette on Thursday.
Primary care providers have been identifying patients that meet the criteria for risk-based vaccination and, through a secure channel, providing that list to Windsor Regional Hospital. Hospital staff then call the patients to book vaccine appointments.
Marentette said the health unit will soon be making available another booking method for anyone in the “highest-risk” and “highrisk” groups who has not yet been vaccinated.
Vaccination has not yet begun for those the province has identified as “at-risk,” which includes roughly 2.2-million Ontarians who have cancer, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, pregnancy, stroke and cerebrovascular disease, immune deficiencies and autoimmune disorders, dementia, liver disease, spleen problems, hypertension with end organ damage, diagnosis of a mental disorder, substance use disorders, thalassemia, immuno-compromising health conditions, or other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community.
Exactly when that group will be able to receive the jab has not been announced.
As per a provincial announcement on April 8, all special education workers who provide direct support to students with special education needs in “hot spot areas” like Windsor-essex are also eligible for vaccination. Nearly 2,000 local special education workers have appointments, Marentette said, though she did not know how many had received their first dose so far.
The health unit will on Friday be vaccinating inmates and staff at the South West Detention Centre. Those in congregate living settings, like adult correctional facilities, are listed as eligible for vaccination under Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout.
Any jail staff not present on Friday will be asked to book an appointment at one of the region's five mass vaccination clinics.
The health unit plans to open up vaccination to additional essential workers, she said, hinting more details would be released on Friday.
After running out of vaccines, some pharmacies in Windsor-essex
have received additional shipments of about 300 Oxford-astrazeneca doses from the Ministry of Health, Marentette said. Anyone on a wait-list for a COVID-19 vaccine from one of the 57 pharmacies in the region offering the jab should contact the pharmacy and ask when they expect their anticipated allotment to arrive.
Anyone age 55 and older is eligible for vaccination at a participating pharmacy.
Marentette said she has received her first dose of the Oxford-astrazeneca vaccine and encourages residents to take the first vaccine that's available to them “and get protected as quickly as possible.”
Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for Windsor-essex, said he has also received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Residents age 60 and older can pre-register for the jab at a mass-vaccination clinic by visiting Wevax.ca or calling 22-7732200. Pre-registration is also open to those age 50 and older living in “hot spot” postal codes: N8X, N8Y, N9A, N9B, N9C, N8H, and N9Y.