'They are not as high as we would like those to be': WECHU vaccine rates for ages 20 to 40 begin to plateau
The Windsor-Essex medical officer of health says more messaging is needed to engage younger people as COVID-19 vaccination rates for certain age groups have started to plateau.
Windsor Essex County Health Unit wants to take action with talks of a possible new vaccine awareness campaign targeting younger people who have yet to receive a COVID-19 shot.
“The younger population between 20-40, that’s the group that has a slightly lower coverage rate then the other age band,” says Dr. Wajid Ahmed.
While the vaccination numbers continue to climb in Windsor-Essex and it is at a high percentage of first doses, the increases for 20-40 year olds are beginning to plateau. The region is also seeing a slowing uptake in younger age groups.
“We are working on our 12 to 17-year-old vaccination rates. They are not as high as we would like those to be. Hopefully you’ll see an increase of first doses because people are booked until July 2,” says WECHU CEO, Theresa Marentette.
Originally aiming for 70 per cent, the health unit is now upping their ambitions, hoping with an extra push to see the vaccination rate continue to increase.
“I have a short term and a long term objective. Short term is to get us to 80 per cent and long-term would be anywhere more than 90 per cent, would be the coverage rate I am looking for,” says Ahmed.
As of Wednesday, 61.7 per cent of Windsor-Essex residents have received at least one dose, while 27.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Windsor Vax Finders is also hoping to encourage and assist in getting shots in arms.
“Every single person in Windsor Essex, who’s over the age of 12 can book a first dose appointment today, and really that’s a privilege that not many regions or other countries have,” says Windsor Vax Finders founder, Noah Gascon.
John Elliott with Sandwich Teen Action Group agrees.
“As the executive director of the teens, I make a point to give them the information, the facts and in this case talking about the vaccines,” he says. “And let them know I took it, here’s why I took it, and advise them to truly consider it because here’s what is going on with the virus.”
Helping to get that information out is now as critical as getting vaccine supply in.
“I think that’s something we should message forward to people because the sooner we get the first doses into arms as well as the second doses, the sooner we are going to put the pandemic behind us,” says Gascon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.