The effort to expand the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in London and Middlesex County will soon take a big step forward. The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU), in partnership with the County of Middlesex, the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service and the Middlesex Hospital Alliance, announced today that the Caradoc Community Centre in Mount Brydges has been selected as the site of the region’s second COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
The Health Unit has been working closely with Strathroy-Caradoc administration to ensure all necessary measures are being put in place to ensure the facility will be ready to support the vaccination operations that will happen there, once additional supply becomes available.
Work currently being done at the Caradoc Community Centre includes implementing the necessary security measures and upgrading the building’s technological infrastructure. It is expected the site will become operational in the coming weeks, as more COVID-19 vaccine becomes available in the region.
When it opens, the Caradoc Community Centre will play an important role in completing the vaccination of those identified in Phase One of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, including residents and staff in long-term care home and retirement homes, First Nations elder care home residents and staff, and essential caregivers in long-term care and retirement homes. Details are not yet available for the exact timing for the final parts of Phase One, or for Phases Two and Three of the Provincial plan.
“The team at Strathroy-Caradoc is committed to supporting our health system partners as the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine begins to roll out across Middlesex County,” said Strathroy-Caradoc Mayor Joanne Vanderheyden. “Today marks an important step forward in our ongoing battle against COVID-19; one that’s possible thanks to continuing partnership and collaboration.”
“I am grateful for the cooperation that all of the partners involved in this expansion of vaccination efforts have demonstrated,” says Warden Cathy Burghardt-Jesson, County of Middlesex. “The establishment of a site in Middlesex County is a timely and important step that will not only assist with completing the first phase of vaccinations of our priority populations, but also be a key component in the future phases of the broader vaccination plan for Middlesex and London.”
“Middlesex-London Paramedic Service is to proud to partner in this collaborative effort to further expand the COVID-19 vaccination program throughout Middlesex-London and to get this much needed vaccine to our residents,” says Chief Neal Roberts, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service.
“Middlesex Hospital Alliance is delighted by this announcement to introduce a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in rural Middlesex and is pleased to partner with the Middlesex-London Health Unit on this initiative,” says Todd Stepanuik, President and CEO, Middlesex Hospital Alliance.
“We are happy to be working with Middlesex County, the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service and Middlesex Hospital Alliance to provide a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the County,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “This will provide an option for people who are eligible to receive the vaccine now. We are also confident that the vaccination clinic in Mount Brydges will not only shorten the time needed to complete the vaccination of eligible populations now but will allow us to plan for vaccination of the general public later this year.”
The Middlesex-London Health Unit will provide regular updates on the eligibility criteria for recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination eligibility will be reviewed weekly by the Vaccine Prioritization Advisory Committee, based on regional supply of the vaccine 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.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SPOKESPEOPLE LISTED BELOW WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE VIRTUAL MEDIA BRIEFING SCHEDULED FOR 2:00 P.M. THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME.
Media Contacts:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-617-0570 or
519-663-5317, extension 2469
Brianna Hammer-Keidel, Deputy Clerk/Communications Coordinator, Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, 519-245-1105 extension 221
Todd Stepanuik, President and CEO, Middlesex Hospital Alliance, 519-245-5295, extension 5592
Miranda Bothwell, PAD / Public Education Coordinator, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service, 519-495-2293 or 519-679-5466, extension 1118
Spokespeople:
Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Cathy Burghardt-Jesson, Warden, County of Middlesex
Fred Tranquilli, Chief Administrative Officer, Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc
519-245-1070 ext. 256
Steph Ouellet, VP Strategic Partnerships, Middlesex Hospital Alliance
Chief Neal Roberts, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service