Waterloo Region surpasses 250,000 vaccinations - 50% of 18+ Have Received at Least one dose
Waterloo Region – Waterloo Region has administered over 250,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and today will reach the milestone of 50 per cent of residents 18+ having received at least one dose of the vaccine. As the Region’s allotment of vaccine from the Province increases for the rest of May and into June, more residents can expect to be contacted to book an appointment.
The Region is currently inviting essential workers, adults 50+, individuals with at-risk health conditions, health care workers and adults 18+ living in priority neighbourhoods to book an appointment. Anyone who recently pre-registered and belongs to an earlier priority group is also receiving an invitation to book an appointment (e.g., highest and high-risk health conditions).
Residents are asked to be patient as everyone will be invited for an appointment in order of eligibility. Groups still waiting to be invited for an appointment are adults 18-49 years of age and youth 12-17 years of age.
All vaccination clinics in Waterloo Region are currently administering one of two mRNA vaccines: Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna. Both vaccines are safe and effective, and have been shown to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death. Neither have any safety signals or concerns that make one a better choice than the other. Residents are encouraged to accept whichever of these vaccines is available.
“When it is your turn to book an appointment, the best thing to do is to get immunized as soon as possible,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Waterloo. “Whether you get the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, getting the vaccine when it’s available means that you are taking action to significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and death from the COVID-19 virus, and helping to protect your loved ones.”
The primary difference between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine is the temperature at which they need to be stored. Pfizer requires ultra-cold freezers and needs additional steps for health care workers to prepare and administer the vaccine. Moderna is stable for longer periods in the fridge and is easier to transport to homes, long-term care, rural and remote locations. These differences are not noticeable to the individuals receiving the vaccines.