Amid expected delays in shipments of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the Sarnia area at the same time all adults have become eligible for a booster shot, the local health unit says it’s prioritizing who will receive those limited doses based on age.
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Amid expected delays in shipments of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the Sarnia area at the same time all adults have become eligible for a booster shot, the local health unit says it’s prioritizing who will receive those limited doses based on age.
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Sarnia-Lambton residents between ages 12 and 29 will still receive Pfizer – while supplies last – but everyone 30 and older will be offered Moderna, Lambton public health said Monday. The change, fueled by provincial shipping delays, comes into effect Tuesday and will remain in effect “until further notice,” the health unit said.
“This vaccine administration plan will be in place until future vaccine supplies from the province are confirmed,” Dr. Sudit Ranade, Lambton’s medical officer of health, said Monday in a statement.
But the health unit added residents don’t need to cancel or change appointments as both mRNA vaccines are interchangeable for the 30-plus crowd.
Ranade added it’s important eligible residents get booster shots “as soon as you can” amid the spread of the Omicron variant. All Ontario residents age 18 and older became eligible Monday to start booking booster-shot appointments, a sped-up timeline implemented by the province in response to the highly contagious variant.
In the meantime, the health unit will be running a dedicated clinic for Sarnia-Lambton residents ages 70 and older looking for their third doses. Wednesday’s clinic, accepting walk-ins and available from 9:30 am to 4 pm at The Shores Recreation Center in Forest, is aimed at shielding the region’s “most vulnerable” residents, the health unit said.
“No appointments are needed, but this clinic will be for third / booster doses only, for those 70 years of age and older,” the health unit said, adding Moderna will be offered on site.
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A total of 14,916 booster shots have been administered locally as of Monday, the health unit reported. The health unit, hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies and pop-up clinics have combined for 211,670 total doses this year. Eighty per cent of local residents ages five and older have received at least one dose and 76 per cent were fully immunized.
ANOTHER COVID-19 CASUALTY
Meanwhile, another patient has died in Sarnia’s hospital due to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, officials say.
A Bluewater Health spokesperson confirmed Monday a Lambton County man in his 60s is the facility’s latest fatality.
The deaths of 64 patients in local hospital since early 2020 have been linked to the pandemic, a figure that includes some people who live outside of Sarnia-Lambton.
The local death toll was still 78, the health unit reported.
A total of 15 new local COVID-19 cases were also reported Monday by the health unit. Of the 4,683 cases since the pandemic began, 160 were active while 4,445 were resolved.
The seven-day incidence rate of cases per 100,000 people in the region has surged to 121.8. Ontario’s was 130.8.
The health unit was also overseeing nine active outbreaks, including seven at unidentified local businesses that have popped up in the last week. The other two were at local schools dating back to Dec. 10.