At a media briefing, outgoing WECHU CEO Nicole Dupuis said 252,775 people in Windsor-Essex are also eligible to get the new bivalent shot. This vaccine targets both the original virus and the Omicron BA.1 variant that emerged late last year and led to greater wave of infection and hospitalization since the pandemic began in early 2020. Although he was unable to provide information on how many people have made an appointment to receive the bivalent shot, Dupuis said the response is going well and more information about the shot will be released next week. “We have enough vaccines to cover our appointments and our strategy as determined and determined by the province,” he said. “We will continue to do this strategy and add more appointments each week. We believe we will have enough appointments and availability in our community for those who meet the criteria and are interested.” Appointments for Ontarians 18 and older were made available for the double shot on Monday, but appointments for people considered vulnerable have priority until September 26. These vulnerable populations include:
Ontarians 70 and older. Residents of long-term care homes, nursing homes, Nursing Homes, and people living in other complexes that provide assisted living and health services. First Nation, Inuit and Métis people and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over. Moderately to severely immunocompromised persons aged 12 years and older. Pregnant people 18 years and older. Healthcare workers aged 18 and over.
The province recommends that Ontarians wait six months before receiving the bivalent vaccine.
Suspension notices are issued to high school students
In addition to the update on the new bivalent vaccines, WECHU issued a statement saying that 1,519 secondary school students are being issued with suspension notices. “The Immunization of School Students Act (1990), Section 11, Subsections (1) and (2) requires public health units to maintain and review immunization records for each student attending school and impose in-school suspension for incomplete vaccination information.” statement read. “Due to out-of-date immunization records, 1,519 secondary school students have been suspended today.” The deadline for submitting the information was Monday. Dupuis said more than 13,000 students had not submitted their information as of June, when the notices were first issued.
