Program to operate in Windsor, Leamington and Kingsville

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The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce launched a free transportation plan Monday aimed at helping those in local COVID-19 hotspots get vaccinated.

Partnering with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, the chamber has secured sponsors to pick up the tab for cab rides to and from vaccination centres in Windsor, Leamington and Kingsville.

“We have to move quickly to get as many people vaccinated in these hotspots before the lockdown ends or we risk remaining in the same situation or worse, a fourth wave and lockdown for the community,” said the chamber’s CEO/president Rakesh Naidu.

“That would be absolutely devastating for the community and our membership.”

Naidu said the chamber is focusing on transportation after the health unit identified that issue as a major stumbling block to getting residents in hot spots vaccinated.

He said the chamber has secured sponsorships of about $40,000 to fund the program.

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Among the companies chipping in are Green Shield, Sun Life, local Rotary Clubs and Hydro One.

The cab companies partnering on the project are Veterans Cab and Sun Parlor Cab.

“The chamber will manage the program and reimburse the cab companies,” Naidu said. “It’s all private money that’s been raised to fund the program.”

The health unit will be responsible for identifying the neighbourhoods and groups to be targeted by the program.

To qualify, an individual must be in a hot spot and have an appointment. When the cab arrives for pick up, the individual will be asked for their appointment time as verification.

Transportation will be available daily and rides offered as long as the designated vaccine centres remain open each day.

Information on how to register for a ride will be available on the chamber’s website (www.windsoressexchamber.org) and the public health unit’s website (www.wechu.org).

“We want to remove all the barriers preventing people from getting vaccinated,” Naidu said. “The health unit is getting calls from people seeking rides.

“People have said they lack transportation, have mobility issues and can’t get on public transit or don’t want to use public transit. This program takes that off the health unit’s plate and doesn’t drain their internal resources.”

The health unit will also publicize the program through social media and its WEVax initiative. It’ll also handle the communications and education aspects of the program.

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Naidu said the plan is based on similar ones being used in Cornwall and a couple of other Ontario communities. The idea was shared recently during one of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s vaccination committee virtual meetings.

“It’s worked very well in Cornwall and has been well received by the community,” Naidu said.

Naidu said there’s been such strong support locally and at the provincial level from Ontario’s chambers of commerce for the program because ensuring the community’s health is the precursor for any hopes of economic health.

“From a business perspective this needs to be done because there’s no other option,” Naidu said. “Community health is the beneficiary of this program. If not, we’ll be locked down even longer.

“We all need to roll our sleeves up and bring in private sector support and get behind the effort to get people vaccinated.”

dwaddell@postmedia.com

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