Region encouraging pregnant, breastfeeding women to get vaccinated

Home-based COVID-19 vaccine program an option for those who find it difficult to get out

WATERLOO REGION — Pregnant and breastfeeding women are encouraged to consider the COVID-19 vaccine, now that it’s been proven to be safe and effective for this group, which is at greater risk of severe outcomes.

“While initial safety studies universally excluded pregnant and lactating individuals — which is exceedingly common in trials — there is increasing realworld evidence of both efficacy and safety in these populations,” said Dr. Sharon

Bal, primary care physician lead of the region’s pandemic task force.

Yet, fewer pregnant and breastfeeding women are getting immunized against COVID-19. Only 60 per cent are fully vaccinated, compared to just over 80 per cent of the general eligible population in Ontario.

Experts recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women should be offered the vaccine if they’re eligible and there are no contraindications — supported by data as these women received the vaccine and smaller research studies.

“You are encouraged to talk to your health-care provider,” Bal said during Friday’s media briefing.

For those pregnant or breastfeeding women who would find it difficult to get out to a clinic or other community location for the vaccine, the region’s homebased program would make immunization easy by having someone come to them.

“The home-based vaccine program would be a great option for them, and I would want to encourage them to use that to make their lives a little bit easier,” said Vickie Murray, operations lead for the region’s vaccine distribution task force.

“Truly, we will come to your home to give you the vaccine. It really is that easy.”

The home-based vaccination program is open to anyone who fills out the form and Murray encourages anyone who needs to get vaccinated to consider the option. At the program’s launch, about 100 visits were being made a week.

“It has slowed down recently, so we can handle more,” Murray said.

Starting on Oct. 31, the Boardwalk clinic in Waterloo will move to a single shift that will run from about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Every day, an average of 900 doses are being given in the region, with about 60 per cent in pharmacies. About 10,000 people are now eligible for their second dose.

A total of 905,580 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given to regional residents: 90.57 per cent of residents 12 and older received at least one dose, and 86.77 per cent are fully vaccinated.

“It is great to see our vaccine rates continue to rise as our goal continues to be to vaccinate everyone who is eligible in our community,” Murray said.

Planning continues to be prepared to give children age five to 11the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is approved for that age group.

“We know it’s coming and we truthfully can’t wait. It’s going to be exactly what our community needs,” Murray said.

Flu season

Medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang urged residents not to delay getting their flu shot. The influenza vaccine is already available for priority populations and will be broadly available in November, which is usually when the flu season kicks off.

“Be sure to get your flu shot this year. You are able to get the flu shot even if you have recently gotten your COVID-19 vaccine,” Wang said.

This year, pharmacies can give flu shots to anyone two and older. Last year the cut-off was age five.

They’ll also be available through family doctors and walk-in clinics.

Public health will host some clinics for children age six months to two years who are not yet eligible to get flu shots in a pharmacy.