Warden McNamara welcomed the members of County Council, Administration and members of the public and delivered the following greeting:
Good evening.
We are at another critical point in the battle against COVID-19 in the Windsor-Essex Region. We need to stop the third wave by staying home and prevent a fourth wave by getting vaccinated.
I know many of you are tired and frustrated, but you keep stepping up. Thank you. Your efforts and sacrifices are making a difference.
So far, the third wave of the pandemic has not hit this region as hard as other parts of Ontario.
However, the fast-spreading variants of the virus are here and on the rise. We need to remain vigilant.
The only way to stop them is by staying home as much as possible. Practice social distancing outside your home and wear a mask when you can’t.
The other positive action you can take is getting a COVID-19 vaccine when it is your turn.
When I was eligible, I didn’t hesitate to get a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine. I was grateful to get it. If you are still waiting for your turn, thank you for being patient.
Everyone 40 years and older is now eligible to make an appointment to be immunized at a participating local pharmacy. I’m heartened to hear people are signing up.
Everyone who is 60 years or older has the option of making an appointment at one of our region’s vaccination clinics.
Individuals with the highest-risk health conditions can also book appointments at these clinics. New time slots are added daily, so check the WEVax.ca website every morning until you get one.
If you’re 50 or over and live in one of the “hot spot” postal codes, you as well can book an appointment at one of the vaccination clinics. You can arrange for free transportation provided by Vets Cab and Sun Parlor Taxi. Thanks to some generous local companies and the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce the cost of your cab fare will be covered.
This is the kind of teamwork that will protect our community.
Health experts have been clear that the benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh the risks. If you have questions, go to a credible source. The WEVax.ca website has all the information, including a step-by-step guide about vaccine appointments available in 11 languages. It is a great resource.
More than 127,000 Windsor-Essex residents have had at least one dose of vaccine as of this morning. That number keeps climbing. The bigger it gets the better we are all protected.