Kitchener-Waterloo

Family doctors to offer AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph

Family doctors in Guelph, Wellington County and Dufferin County are now part of a provincial pilot offering the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 60 to 64. People who are eligible will be contacted by their doctor's office.

People who are eligible will be contacted by their doctor's office

The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine will now be available through some family health team offices in Guelph, Wellington County and Dufferin County as part of an expanded pilot project by the province. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

People between the ages of 60 to 64 will now have access to the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine through their family doctor in Guelph, Wellington County and Dufferin County.

The communities have been added to the provincial pilot announced last week to provide this specific vaccine to that age group, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health said in a release Tuesday. When the province first announced the pilot, it was to allow pharmacies and primary care settings in three areas to offer the vaccine: Toronto, Windsor-Essex, and Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington.

The local health unit noted people do not need to contact their doctor, but rather participating physicians will contact eligible patients to book a vaccine.

The following local family health teams will be taking part in the pilot:

  • Dufferin Area Family Health Team.
  • East Wellington Family Health Team.
  • Guelph Family Health Team. 
  • Minto Mapleton Family Health Team. 
  • Mount Forest Family Health Team. 
  • Upper Grand Family Health Team.

Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health and CEO of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, said she was thankful to the family health teams and physicians taking part "for their commitment to helping end the pandemic in our region."

Region of Waterloo Public Health said the community has not been chosen to take part in the pilot yet.

WATCH | Canada Tonight's medical contributor Dr. Samir Gupta addresses concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine after some European countries suspended the vaccine over reports of blood clots:

Addressing concerns about the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine

4 years ago
Duration 5:42
Canada Tonight's medical contributor Dr. Samir Gupta addresses concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine after some European countries suspended the vaccine over reports of blood clots.