By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The final week of May saw Chatham-Kent’s COVID-19 vaccination effort hit two major milestones.
And according to health unit communications spokesman Jeff Moco, the team is poised to set another.
Over a seven-day period ending May 29, health officials dispensed 7,887 shots of vaccine and hit a goal of immunizing 50,000 residents over the age of 16.
That’s nearly half of the local population.
Moco said the team hopes to best last week’s performance by getting 8,000 shots in arms this week.
“We are quickly ramping up vaccinations in Chatham-Kent as our vaccine supply has increased recently,” Moco told The Voice on Monday.
“We will be running clinics for six full days this week at the Bradley Centre.”
The week of June 7 will see the clinic operate for four days at the Bradley Centre. In addition, a mobile clinic in Bothwell will be held June 8 where the Moderna vaccine will be given out.
A family clinic aimed at youth aged 12-17 years and their families is planned for Wallaceburg June 14. The team will be dispensing the Pfizer vaccine.
The eligibility criteria for the vaccine has expanded yet again and people aged 80 years and up are now able to book their second dose.
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is being offered at an accelerated pace with a 10-week interval for individuals who received their first dose between March 10 to March 19.
As well, beginning this week, anyone who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine from March 10 onwards will be eligible to receive a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at a 12-week interval, with appointment dates based on the timing of their first dose.
