Calls to increase vaccination rates in downtown Windsor, Fontainebleau neighbourhoods
Nearly 75 per cent of individuals over 18 have one shot and more than 25 per cent of people in Windsor-Essex have been double-dosed with a COVID-19 vaccine.
But despite the high uptake, some pockets of the city are falling well below those volumes for the first dose.
Fewer than 50 per cent of residents in Downtown Windsor and the Fontainebleau neighbourhood have received their first shot, while the suburbs of LaSalle and Tecumseh are nearly 15 per cent more vaccinated with a single dose.
“We have to find a way to get to these people,” says Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, who recently penned a letter to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, calling for more targeted approaches to increasing coverage.
“I’m encouraging the health unit, who is responsible for the vaccination efforts, to figure out strategies to reach the downtown population and the Fontainebleau population so we can help bring up the number of full dose vaccinations,” he says.
Dilkens says pop-up clinics, mobile clinics, door-to-door vaccinations and connecting with community and church leaders could be effective strategies.
With the closed downtown vaccination centre, Dilkens is also willing to share surplus city staff to help bridge the disparity.
“We want to be a partner in this, we’ll figure it out together,” the mayor says. “There has to be a pathway to help accelerate the vaccinations.“
The health unit was unavailable to comment Tuesday.
But Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky says the health unit needs more resources from the province to reach these vulnerable communities.
“Their resources are really stretched thin right now, so the province has to step up and help them with some targeted outreach to make sure we do have mobile units,” says Gretzky.
The New Democrat points out the barriers affecting uptake in these postal codes include transportation, language, accessibility, and access to information.
“All of those barriers are still in place and they should have been dealt with many, many months ago to make sure we’re reaching the entire population within our community,” Gretzky says.
In his letter, Dilkens urged the health unit to undertake, “a renewed and dedicated plan to close the gap between downtown Windsor and other parts of the region. Redoubling our efforts to reach marginalized populations will only help ensure the entire community is protected from future COVID-19 risks.”
“We can’t leave them behind. This is a global pandemic.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.