3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccines available in Waterloo region for at-risk people

Those people who are most at risk of health complications if they contract COVID-19 are now eligible for a third dose of the vaccine "to provide an extra layer of protection against the delta variant," the Region of Waterloo announced Wednesday.

The province has listed the following people as being eligible for the third shot:

• Transplant recipients (including solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants).
• Patients with hematological cancers (examples include lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia) on active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy).
• Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (e.g. rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab).
• Residents of high-risk congregate settings including long-term care homes, higher-risk licensed retirement homes and First Nations elder care lodges.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, said the vaccine provides strong protection against the virus and severe outcomes.

"For individuals at highest-risk, a third dose will offer an improved immune response and will help provide an extra layer of protection for the most vulnerable in our community," Wang said in a release.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the chief medical officer of health for Ontario, told CBC K-W's The Morning Edition that immunization is the best way forward as case rates rise across the province.

Moore said they are not yet going to offer third doses to people who received mixed vaccine brands for their first and second doses and who now may face travel restrictions because of that.

"It's specific because we have data and we're making data-driven decisions," Moore said.

"We are following evidence for other medical conditions," he added, noting the eligibility could be expanded in the future.

People who are eligible for the third dose should contact their health care provider to figure out the appropriate timing for the shot, the region said.

Cancer patients who receive treatment at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre can expect to be contacted by the centre within the next two weeks.

The region said people will be able to get a third dose at any of the regionally run vaccination clinics, from their family doctor or from some local pharmacies.

Anyone born in 2009 now eligible

The region also noted the province has expanded eligibility for first doses to anyone born in 2009 and reminded people that the region's clinics on Pinebush in Cambridge and The Boardwalk in Waterloo take walk-ins for first and second doses. There are also vaccination buses that move around the region that do not require an appointment and doses can be given by family doctors or at pharmacies.

The region is also planning pop-up clinics in area shopping malls in the hopes of reaching students before they return to school.

The Waterloo Region District School Board announced either pop-up clinics or the vaccine bus would be in Wilmot and Wellesley townships this week:

• Elmira at the Woolwich Memorial Centre on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• Linwood Community Centre on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• St. Jacobs at 20 Albert St. E., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Moore said the province announced new vaccine policies three weeks before students are due to return to school because there's been a "sudden drop off" of people getting first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines and "as a result, we need to draw attention to this — the benefits, the strength, the effectiveness of the immunizations."

Listen to the full interview with Dr. Kieran Moore:

13 new cases

Region of Waterloo reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There was one new death of a person with the virus reported, which brought the total number of COVID-related deaths in the region to 288.

There were 16 people with the virus in the region's three hospitals. There were 10 people in the intensive care unit. People in the ICU may no longer be infectious but still require specialized care.

There were four active outbreaks:

• One at Conestoga Lodge retirement home with five cases in non-staff.
• One at Nazarene Christian Congregation in Kitchener, a place of worship, with 28 cases.
• One at a food processing facility with 10 cases.
• One at a retail store with two cases.

The region's vaccination dashboard showed 84.43 per cent of people aged 12 and older have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 76.38 per cent have both doses.