'It is a nightmare': Windsor-Essex residents lament slow rollout of paediatric COVID-19 vaccinations
It’s been two weeks since the province announced the availability of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children under five, but finding a place in Windsor-Essex to get your child vaccinated is proving to be a difficult task.
“It is a nightmare,” says Diane Russett, a retired grandmother who took up the task of finding somewhere for her four-year-old granddaughter, Mille to get vaccinated.
She’s spent six hours trying to hunt down an appointment at a pharmacy, but so far, has come up empty.
“When you get on it right away like I did last Thursday, it's shocking to me it's Wednesday and I don't have anything yet,” says Russett. “I'm shocked that it's almost like it's so important, but it's not so important.”
The province announced July 21 that the Moderna paediatric vaccine would soon be distributed throughout the province for infants six months old to five years of age.
That day, The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit recommended parents and caregivers speak with their child’s healthcare provider about the COVID-19 vaccine.
WECHU has also posted a list of 12 pharmacies participating in paediatric COVID-19 vaccinations.
But getting an appointment at a participating pharmacy has been a tall task.
“I just think there should have been more emphasis put on making this work and making it easy,” says Russett, who has been placed on a number of waitlists but still has no date confirmed. “A lot of people they're not going to keep fighting. They're just gonna give up and say forget it, I'm not doing it.”
“It seems kind of you know a screwy way to approach the rollout,” says retired radiation oncologist Dr. Christopher Leighton, who is critical of the government’s silence since the announcement. He says it’s the government’s role to keep people informed and educated about the risks and benefits of getting infants vaccinated.
“What people actually hear is that there's less to be worried about from the pandemic. And what we're seeing in healthcare is absolute opposite,” Leighton says.
It’s Dr. Leighton’s opinion that family doctors and primary care providers likely provide the best setting for infant vaccination due to familiarity and comfort, but information and vaccine availability for going that route is scarce.
“I’ve been trying this morning to find out if there are pediatricians or family physicians who have access to vaccine locally, I haven't heard of any yet,” he says. “Why are we lagging the rest of the province?”
Tim Brady, who owns and operates Brady’s Drug Store says paediatric vaccines will be available at his Belle River location as early as this weekend and is currently booking appointments through a waiting list.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.