You may have notice some grumblings on social media about the distribution of Moderna’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccines for kids under five years old. It seems that history is repeating itself, not only with the region’s enthusiasm to get vaccination, but with the difficulties in getting those vaccines into eager arms. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health though is saying, “Don’t worry!” The vaccines are coming and you will be able to get one.

In an e-mail to the media on Thursday afternoon, Public Health’s communications specialist Danny Williamson explained that they received a shipment on vaccines on Wednesday and that they are expecting another shipment sometime next week. He also reiterated previous comments from public health that the pediatric vaccine will be administered mostly through family doctors, but some pharmacies in the region will also have the shot available too.

Public Health does have a list of pharmacies where the vaccine is available for kids under five, and there are so far only four in Guelph. Willow Pharmacy and the pharmacy in Zehrs on Clair Road are so far only ones giving out the vaccine by appointment, while the pharmacy at the Stone Road Walmart and Chancellors Way Pharmacy are only giving out vaccines to children two years and older.

Public Health says more locations will be added as supplies become available, but if you’re having trouble trying to find somewhere to get your child a shot, you can call Public Health directly at 519-822-2715 ext. 7006.

Across the region now, 91.5 per cent of eligible people have had one shot while 89 per cent have received two shots and 59.8 per cent have had at least one booster. In Guelph alone, 93.3 per cent have gotten one shot, 90.7 per cent have received two, and 62.6 per cent have had at least one booster.

The vaccines are arriving at a time when the new COVID-19 case numbers continue to go up regionally. Last week, there were 212 new cases of the virus in Wellington, Dufferin, and Guelph, which brings the total number of confirmed active cases back up to 300. There has also been an additional fatality to bring the number of total COVID deaths in the region up to 165 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The long-term trends also continue to go up with the seven-day moving rate of confirmed cases now increased from 59.9 per 100,000 one week ago to 63.5 per 100,000 as of Wednesday. The test positivity rate has also gone up by a fraction of a per cent from 16 per cent last week to 16.7 per cent this week.

Also on the increase are the number of COVID-19 outbreaks at area retirement and long-term care homes. While outbreaks at Highland Manor in Fergus and Louise Marshall in Mount Forest have announced their outbreaks over, there are still nine other outbreaks including new ones at the Village of Riverside Glen, and a second outbreak at Guelph General Hospital announced this week.