A reminder from the Northwestern Health Unit to keep up with COVID vaccinations.
Anyone over the age of 5 can receive the vaccine.
In terms of booster shots, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon says anyone over the age of 12 is eligible for the third dose and those 60 and older, immunocompromised individuals, or who are Indigenous, they can get a fourth dose.
She notes the government is continuing to study vaccines for those five and under. Those may be approved in the coming months.
“If it’s been more than three months since you’ve had COVID, then you should be looking to book an appointment for your booster dose. There is added benefit and protection from a booster dose. So you are significantly decreased risk of severe illness with a booster dose and decreased risk of being infected,” says Dr. Young Hoon.
“The vaccine protection does wane somewhere around the six-month mark, maybe a little bit earlier, a little bit later, depending on the individual. So it is important to have some sense of what’s going on with respect to vaccination policy and know when you might be eligible in the future for your next dose.”
You can book an appointment at local health unit offices, participating pharmacies or medical clinics.
For more information on vaccinations, visit Northwestern Health Unit
Meantime, COVID data continues fluctuate in the region.
The test positivity rate has gone from 9.1% to 11.4%.
The number of cases confirmed through PCR testing has gone down from 159 to 135.
Health officials stress the case numbers are likely higher as positive cases confirmed through rapid tests are not included numbers reported to the Ministry of Health.
Breakdown on cases (Health Hub) as of July 6, 2022:
Sioux Lookout (on reserve): 108
Kenora: 8
Fort Frances: 7
Dryden: 4
Red Lake: 4
Atikokan: 3
Sioux Lookout (off reserve): 1
