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COVID-19 vaccine eligibility has again expanded in Windsor-Essex, this time to anyone age 40 and older with an “at-risk” medical condition or living in a hot-spot postal code.
The local health unit on Tuesday announced 40-somethings in both groups would now be able to book appointments at the region’s six mass vaccination sites. Previously, those locations were only open to older people, some essential workers, and those with high-risk medical conditions.
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Windsor-Essex will receive double its current supply of COVID-19 vaccines in the first two weeks of May, the health unit has announced.
Roughly 44,000 doses are expected to arrive in the weeks of May 3 and May 10, the majority of which will be distributed through the region’s mass vaccination sites.
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“Since we have hotspots in our region, that’s one of the reasons they (the Ministry of Health) are supplementing our supply with additional doses,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed on Monday.
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“We are doing the best we can.”
Local health unit CEO Theresa Marentette shared a rare on-camera laugh with Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed Thursday morning when asked how her team has been able to keep up with rapid changes to Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan.
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The provincial government’s announcement on Wednesday that vaccines would soon be available to those age 18 and older in COVID “hot spot” postal codes seven of which are in Windsor, Leamington, and Kingsville was news to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. They were still working to open up appointments to those age 50 and older in select postal codes, a change announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford only one day prior, along with the official start of the vaccine distribution plan’s second phase.
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People ages 55 and older can now get the AstraZeneca vaccine at pharmacies.
It’s difficult to describe the relief that flooded through me when the government announced this.
But as much as I want it, it’s difficult to justify. I’m not a priority. Not any more.
I’m healthy. I don’t live in a postal code that’s a hot spot. My office is my kitchen counter. My husband also works from home.
My risk of being infected, or infecting others, is much lower than that of essential frontline workers who can’t work from home, like teachers and grocery store and factory employees.