The vaccination clinic located at the Western Fair District Agriplex will start up again on Monday, February 8, thanks to the renewed delivery of Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to the facility. The decision to re-open is also in keeping with direction provided by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health to deliver the vaccine to those who are at greatest risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Starting Monday, healthcare workers who have been awaiting their second doses will begin to receive them, ensuring they are administered within 42 days of when their first doses were delivered. All those whose second dose appointments were cancelled will be contacted directly to reschedule.
“Now that we’ve started receiving a supply of vaccine in the region once again, it is encouraging that we are able to reschedule second dose appointments at the Agriplex,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “I know that it has been stressful for frontline healthcare workers who have had second dose appointments rescheduled. It’s a relief to see vaccine arriving again.”
Operations at the Agriplex clinic were put on hold January 22, when the Federal Government announced a delay in the delivery of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to Canada because of production challenges, and there was insufficient local supply to continue operating the facility. While the Agriplex clinic was closed, the Middlesex-London Health Unit used the limited vaccine supply that was left to complete the first-dose vaccinations to all eligible residents of long-term care homes, retirement residences attached to long-term care homes and several other high-risk retirement homes in London and Middlesex County.
Between December 23, 2020 and January 22, 2021, 10,477 doses of vaccine were administered at the Agriplex vaccination clinic; while the Health Unit also delivered 3,850 initial doses of vaccine at long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes between January 11 and January 29. Efforts to administer second doses to residents in these settings began on February 1, 2021.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit, Southwestern Public Health and Huron Perth Public Health, will provide regular updates on the eligibility criteria for recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine in their respective regions. Vaccination eligibility will be reviewed weekly by the Vaccine Prioritization Advisory Committee, based on the regional vaccine supply and Provincial direction. Eligibility criteria and prioritization schedules will be communicated as the latest information becomes available. Visit https://www.healthunit.com/covid-19-vaccine for the latest COVID-19 vaccine information.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-617-0570
Spokesperson:
Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit