Ahead of the anticipated delivery date, the newest COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Middlesex and London pharmacies. These first doses are geared to those who are at the highest risk of serious infection and hospitalization.

Unlike previous years, the Middlesex-London Health Unit is not hosting large scale vaccination clinics. Instead, most community members will receive their COVID-19 shots with a pharmacist or primary care provider. Those first in line are considered at highest risk of a serious infection and include:

• adults 65 years of age or older
• individuals 6 months of age and older who are/have:
•    residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings
•    pregnant
•    in or from First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities
•    members of racialized and other equity-deserving communities
• those who have underlying medical conditions that places them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, including children with complex health needs priority populations including:
•    children 6 months to 4 years of age
•    health care workers
•    first responders
• individuals with significant exposure to birds and mammals (such as poultry, livestock, slaughterhouse and processing plant workers, wildlife officers/researchers, and veterinarians)

“The great news is that the influenza vaccine is also available to these same higher-risk community members. Both vaccines can be administered on the same day by your pharmacist. You can find a participating pharmacy using the Ontario vaccine finder (www.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations/),” says Dr. Joanne Kearon, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

Community members are also reminded that staying home when sick and asking others to do the same, appropriately ventilating indoor spaces, and masking in crowded public venues are also effective ways to avoid respiratory illness as the weather cools and more time is spent indoors.