As of Thursday, teens aged 12-17 can get a booster shot against COVID-19.
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit CEO Nicole Dupuis said they're ready.
Even though some operations at the mass vaccination clinics at Devonshire Mall, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and Grovedale House in Kingsville are winding down, they remain open.
"I think we have in total about 89 pharmacies across Windsor-Essex that are participating in vaccination, as well as primary care. And also, we do have our mobile strategy, which we've really enhanced over the past month," she said.
The health unit has regularly held clinics at schools across the region. Dupuis said attendance overall has been encouraging and sometimes even exceeded the number of people at the mass clinics that day.
Those who want to book an appointment to get a third booster shot for their child can go to WEVax.ca or call 226-772-2200.
This week's epidemiological summary suggests the burden of COVID-19 on the community is lessening. Hospitalizations, the number of people in the ICU, and deaths all declined last week from the week before. The number of outbreaks remained stable. However, test positivity remains high, and wastewater testing fluctuated.
"Wastewater data is thought to be more of an immediate indicator -- That's one of the reasons why we are cautious about making too sweeping inferences," said Acting Medical Officer of Health Doctor Shanker Nesathurai.
The province lifted more COVID-19 restrictions on Thursday.
Indoor social gatherings of up to 50 people, and 100 outside, are now allowed under the Reopening Ontario Act. Restaurants and bars can also open to capacity.
Dupuis said the health unit would monitor the impact on the community.
Currently, 183,000 Windsor-Essex residents have had their booster shot. Another 155,000 have had just two doses, but Nesathurai said many got their second vaccine in the summer, and their immune response may be weakening. He strongly recommends everyone receive their third dose.
