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Windsor Regional Hospital officials provide stats to dispel vaccine hesitancy

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As first and second dose uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations stalls, the call to arms encouraging booster doses was backed up by Windsor Regional Hospital data.

Hospital officials say very few residents have had a reaction after getting the shot. In fact, out of 793,000 doses in the past year, only two people were admitted to hospital for treatment.

At one point, Windsor-Essex boasted five mass vaccination sites. That number is down to three and will continue to shrink as the pandemic turns endemic.

“We are having discussions regularly about redeploying staff back to programs that need them whether through the hospital or own health unit services,” said Chief of Staff, Dr. Wassim Saad.

There is no expiry date for the three remaining sites but Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) officials anticipate closing at some point as they consider what a wind down looks like.

“Focusing more on those mobile outreach efforts to continue to get out into the community and make sure the vaccines are available,” said WECHU CEO, Nicole Dupuis.

With a year of data at their disposal, officials at Windsor Regional Hospital continue to reinforce vaccine effectiveness.

“I mean these vaccines are extremely safe. To have two people admitted after almost 800,000 doses of vaccine being administered in our region is negligible,” said Saad during Thursday’s board meeting.

Saad points out that between December 2020 and December 2021, two people ended up in hospital with myocarditis or pericarditis. He notes those individuals were discharged and carried on to get all three shots.

With about 20 per cent of Windsor-Essex residents yet to receive a first dose, Saad says he doesn't want death or personal tragedy to be the impetus to get vaccinated.

“Nobody from our region has died as a result of the vaccine,” he said.

According to hospital CEO David Musyj, over the last three weeks, an average of about 20 people a day, aged 18 and over, have gotten their first dose.

“There's still hope. Individuals are hearing the message, are getting the message, are coming in and starting their first vaccine. We’ve got to keep trying,” said Musyj.

Officials feel that effort will help ease pressure on the healthcare system and help turn the pandemic to endemic status.

“The real issue right now is to monitor what the burden of disease to the community is subsequent to the relaxations,” said Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, acting medical officer of health. 

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