Local medical leaders urge final vaccine push

COVID-19 vaccinations in Windsor-essex have plateaued — and local medical leaders are worried.

The region's top doctors have collaborated on an open letter to the community, pleading with all residents ages 12 and older to be vaccinated in order to avoid a fourth wave of the novel coronavirus.

“This is a critical time in our fight against COVID-19, and if we as a community grow complacent, the risk of further health, social well-being, and economic impacts could be grave,” the letter states.

The letter is signed by the region's medical officer of health, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, chiefs of staff at Windsor Regional Hospital, Erie Shores Healthcare and Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare, and the president of the Essex County Medical Society.

While the Windsor-essex region's COVID-19 numbers have been low and stable this summer — only 23 active cases, as of Wednesday — the letter points out that variants are spreading rapidly and sparking increases in other countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Spain.

“Those who are not vaccinated contribute to the majority of the cases, and they are at the greatest risk of contracting the virus, experiencing life-threatening complications and spreading the virus to others,” the letter states.

“In this race to avoid another local wave of COVID-19 infections, we need everyone to do their part as quickly as possible.”

After dramatic progress on COVID -19 vaccination during the spring, Windsor-essex has remained just below the provincial average on vaccination rates for weeks now.

As of Wednesday morning, 65.3 per cent of all residents in the region ages 12 and older have been fully vaccinated with two doses, compared to 67.3 per cent provincewide.

About 75.6 per cent of people in the region ages 12 and older have received at least one dose, compared to the provincial rate of 79.9 per cent.

The letter states that “there has never been an easier time to get vaccinated.”

Local mass vaccination sites, pharmacies, and health-care providers are now sitting on “ample supply” of MRNA vaccine doses — Moderna and Pfizer-biontech.

“Now is the time,” the letter advises those who are not vaccinated.

For those who have been vaccinated, the letter asks that they encourage people in their lives — family members, friends and co-workers — to seek vaccination.

“Together, we can ensure a safer fall and winter and set us on a road to recovery — but the time for action is now,” the letter states.

“Only together can we beat this virus, and only together can we move forward as a community . ... Get vaccinated and strongly encourage everyone you know to be vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Visit www.wevax.ca for details on getting vaccinated in Windsor-essex.

In local COVID-19 data, the Windsor-essex County Health Unit confirmed three more cases of the Delta variant — bringing the total presence of the Delta variant in the region to 14 cases, on record.

Of the 23 currently active COVID -19 cases in the region, five involve a “variant of concern.”

There are presently no COVID-19 in-patients at local hospitals.

One workplace in the region is now categorized as having an outbreak: an agricultural sector location in Kingsville.

Meanwhile, the region's overall COVID-19 case count rose by two on Wednesday morning. The health unit said five new cases were actually reported, but due to routine data cleanup, the net increase was two.

Of the five new cases, three are close contacts of previously reported cases, one was acquired in the community and one is related to travel outside the region.

To date, Windsor-essex has had 16,874 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus since the pandemic began. 16,416 of those cases are considered resolved.

The region's COVID-19 death toll stands at 435.