Southwestern Public Health Unveils Vaccination Strategy

Thursday, 4 March 2021 05:21

Southwestern Public Health is about to open two mass vaccination clinics; one at Goff Hall in Woodstock and another at the Memorial Arena in St. Thomas.

OXFORD COUNTY - Southwestern Public Health provided the public with a vaccine rollout strategy on Wednesday.

They will be setting up mass vaccination clinics in Woodstock at the Goff Hall Community Complex and in St. Thomas at the Memorial Arena.

Manager of the Health Unit's COVID-19 Immunization Task Force Jaime Fletcher says they hope to start mass vaccinations the week of March 15th.

“We are excited to bring COVID-19 vaccine clinics to our region in partnership with our municipal leaders across St. Thomas, Elgin County and Oxford County. The size of these two initial mass vaccination sites will ensure we can expand operations quickly as COVID-19 vaccine supplies increase in Ontario.”

Once the mass vaccinations clinics are set up, the Health Unit will work on starting pop up clinics in other locations in Oxford and Elgin Counties.

Booking for seniors 80 and over and Indigenous adults 55 and over for the mass vaccination clinics will start next week. Southwestern Public Health has secured it's own doses of the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine that will be stored at minus 80 degrees in Woodstock and St. Thomas. More details on how to book your appointment will be coming out shortly. A phone line and an online portal for booking will be available on March 8th. Fletcher says vaccine rollout is contingent on supply from the Province.

“Until we have a steady supply of vaccine from the Province, we need to rollout our supply very strategically so that our most vulnerable are served first. Please do not call our appointment line if you are not yet eligible. We must keep our lines open and accessible for those who are eligible so they can quickly receive a vaccine when it is their turn.”

No word at this time if Southwestern Public Health will be getting any of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines that will be given to people between the ages of 60 and 64.

For more information on the local vaccine rollout visit the Southwestern Public Health website online here.