The Windsor Essex Count Public Health Unit is urging local institutions to follow the ethical guidelines and prioritization matrix set out by the provincial and federal governments when administering the COVID-19 vaccine.
The comments come after a communications official with Erie Shores Healthcare posted photos of himself getting the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
“There are very strict ethical guidelines, as well as some clear guidelines as to which health care workers we are talking about,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed. “There is a risk prioritization matrix that everyone has to complete in terms of identifying the potential risk of acquiring the disease, and then factored in with what is the risk of developing more severe outcomes of the disease.”
Dr. Ahmed said institutions should take the responsibility of administering the vaccine very seriously.
“I want to get all our healthcare workers, because they are on the frontline. They need to get vaccinated, but when we have a limited number of vaccine, there is a prioritization that’s given out to us by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, and that guidance is further refined by the province,” said Dr. Ahmed.
Neither Dr. Ahmed, nor Health Unit CEO Chief Nursing Officer Theresa Marentette, has received the vaccine.
“We will probably be in the least of the priorities before we prioritize all the important people in our community. Our seniors, they are the most important priority in my mind,” said Dr. Ahmed.
Dr. Ahmed said most of the health unit staff have also not been vaccinated to date. Some nurses, who are going into long-term care homes to administer vaccines have received their first dose.
“We, at our health unit make very responsible decisions with the vaccine, and the direction from the Ministry to us has been residents, essential caregivers, and staff and we even consulted with them about the ability to vaccinate our vaccinators which they supported,” said Marentette.
To date, the health unit has completed vaccinations at 13 local long-term care and retirement homes.
Windsor Regional Hospital has vaccinated around 3,000 front-line healthcare workers who work at long-term care and retirement facilities.
