SWPH Urges Residents Not to Delay Vaccination Any Longer
The health unit specifically hopes to reach more people between the ages of 12 and 39 over the coming weeks.
The time to act is now.
That is the message from Southwestern Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Joyce Lock, to community members who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19.
With an excellent supply of safe, effective vaccines and many appointments available, it has never been easier to be vaccinated against a virus that continues to result in illness, disability, and death across the world – 19 months after it was first identified.
“The variants of concern have changed the pandemic,” emphasizes Lock. “It is not the same virus as it was last year. Across the country and the world, the Delta variant is sending otherwise healthy people to hospital with severe illness. It is sending young people to hospital. Your age will not protect you, but the vaccine will. It’s the best defense against illness, disability and death and it’s the best chance we have to emerge from this pandemic and reduce the restrictions we’ve been living under.”
Jaime Fletcher, Program Manager overseeing the region’s COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force adds, “Our team is here to reassure you and answer your questions. We can book your appointment for you. Or, you can walk right in to a clinic. We also have in-vehicle vaccinations at our Mass Immunization Clinics, and pop-up clinics happening across the region this week.”
The public health unit urges anyone who is 28 days past their first dose to get their second dose as quickly as possible by walking into a clinic or rebooking online at www.covidvaccineLM.ca. Anyone who needs help booking or rebooking can call 1-800-922-0096 ext. 9 from 8:30 to 4:30 Monday to Friday.
The province entered Step 3 of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen on July 16 and will remain in this phase until at least August 6 and until 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of their eligible population aged 12 and over fully vaccinated.
As of July 25, 78.2% of eligible residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 59.7% are fully immunized within the Southwestern Public Health region.
Media Contact:
Megan Cornwell
Communications Manager | Southwestern Public Health
mcornwell@swpublichealth.ca