With flu and COVID-19 season about to begin in London, members of the city’s senior community are looking forward to getting vaccinated, though they may have to wait a little longer.
As of Sept. 28, flu and COVID vaccines have begun being distributed in Ontario to elderly and high-risk individuals. The provincial Ministry of Health includes people aged 65 or above, patients and staff at hospitals, people with compromised immune systems and people living in long-term care homes and retirement homes as part of these groups of people.
Despite the beginning of this rollout, however, London may still have to wait. “The on-the-ground reality … is that the vaccine hasn’t arrived in London and Middlesex yet,” wrote Megan Cornwell, the manager of corporate communications and client relations at the Middlesex London Health Unit, in an email to XFM News.
Cornwell also said that even though the vaccines have begun to be available in Ontario, she doesn’t want to mislead the community by accident into thinking the vaccines are available in London just yet.
“The public conversation makes people in the community think they can get immunized now,” she wrote. “So they call and they are frustrated because there are no appointments yet (because there is no vaccine yet).”
The Health Unit said in an email to XFM News that people can follow them on social media or their website for updates on when the vaccines will arrive.
A pharmacy at Cherryhill Village Mall. When flu and COVID vaccines become available in London, seniors and high-risk people may go to places like this to receive them.
Photo by: Curtis Stokman
Even though the vaccines are not yet available, members of London’s senior community are anticipating getting them. XFM News spoke to several seniors at Cherryhill Village Mall and found that many intend to get vaccinated.
“I’ve never missed one,” said Bob Smith. “I get my flu shot, COVID shot every year.”
Other seniors were just as adamant. Kathy Hamm also said she gets both vaccines every year, as did Muhammad Bhatti.
“My immune system is compromised, so I was told I should get it,” said Hamm.
Even so, not every person intended to get both vaccines. Elizabeth Lowe said that while she had only gotten the flu vaccine once, she gets the COVID vaccine every year. Conversely, Jon Mitsis said that while he gets the flu vaccine each year, he doesn’t want to get the COVID vaccine.
“I already took three shots quite a while ago,” said Mitsis. “I don’t think I’m going to take them anymore.”
Both Lowe and Mitsis both said they felt it was important to get their respective vaccines, citing personal experience and the advice of their doctors as to why.
“I did get COVID, but I only had it very slightly,” said Lowe. “I’d get [the vaccine] again, for sure.”
Others gave similar reasons for why getting both vaccines was important. “We’ve seen the results if you don’t get them,” said Smith. “Just protection, I guess.”
