The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit have released some new details about COVID-19 vaccination second dose appointments.
“On March 10, 2021, the province of Ontario announced that it would be following directions from the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) in extending COVID-19 vaccination second doses to 16 weeks,” CK Public Health officials said in a press release on Thursday, March 25, 2021.
“Ontario supported this decision by providing the following statement… ‘extending the interval between doses for up to four months will allow Ontario to rapidly accelerate its vaccine rollout and maximize the number of people receiving a first dose. Evidence suggests this will result in a reduction in infections, symptomatic disease, hospitalization, and ICU admissions. This means a lot less illness and a lot of lives saved.'”
Public health officials say Chatham-Kent will be following this provincial direction by extending all second doses to 16 weeks after the first dose with the following exemptions:
– Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges, and Assisted Living facilities; and
– Remote and isolated First Nation communities, including those living at Delaware Nation at Moraviantown
“Residents not part of the exempted groups will now be required to reschedule their second dose appointments by calling our vaccination phone line at 519-351-1010 three months after their first dose,” CK Public Health officials say.
“Please do not call now or attend the Bradley Centre if you had a second appointment booked. Family and friends of our senior residents are encouraged to reach out to ensure that they are supported in booking their follow-up appointments.”
For the latest COVID-19 vaccination updates, visit: ckphu.com/covid-19-vaccine
