Updated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine available next week for high-risk Windsor-Essex residents

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU)says the updated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be available next week.

Starting on Oct. 10, the region's most vulnerable and high-risk populations will have access to the Spikevax XBB shots.

People are also encouraged to get their flu vaccines, says the health unit, to prevent "unnecessary visits to the hospital" during respiratory illness season.

The Ontario Ministry of Health lists the following groups for the first phase of the rollout:

• Pregnant individuals.

• Individuals 65 years of age or older.

• All children six months to four years of age.

• People from a First Nation, Inuit or Mtis community.

• Members of racialized and other equity deserving communities.

• Health care workers and first responders.

WECHU says eligibility is also limited to those who have not had a dose of COVID-19 vaccine or a confirmed COVID-19 infection in the last six months.

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Flu shots will be offered to eligible individuals during their COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

Both the XBB COVID-19 and flu vaccine will be available to the general public in Windsor-Essex towardthe end of October, at health-care providers' offices and pharmacies.

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