WECHU working on hotspot area vaccination rates, but more outreach needed: Dr. Ahmed
The Windsor-Essex medical officer of health is responding to comments that more needs to be done to increase vaccination rates in certain areas of the city.
Dr. Wajid Ahmed said during Wednesday morning’s WECHU YouTube livestream that he had a conversation with Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens about his concerns.
Dilkens recently penned a letter to the health unit, calling for more targeted approaches to increasing coverage in hotspot areas like downtown Windsor and the Fontainebleau neighbourhood.
“What they are missing is some of these outreach. Access is not an issue,” says Ahmed. “It’s an outreach to ensure that who are hesitating to get the vaccine and what is their issues. Maybe they have other issues that go beyond the vaccine issue and those need to be addressed.”
Ahmed says there are many partnerships involved already to help increase coverage in those areas.
He says there are 34 pharmacies and 15 physician offices offering vaccines in hot spot postal codes in Windsor-Essex, in addition to pop-up and clinics.
“I have explained all of these to the mayor in my call with him and it would have been much easier to have a one-on-one with him,” says Ahmed.
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.
“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,” says Dilkens.
WECHU is paying attention to the issue, says Ahmed.
“I would say that there is still more work that we need to do in these communities. There are targeted efforts that are happening right now,” said Ahmed.
Overall, 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.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine
The United States vetoed a widely backed UN resolution Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent.