The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) announced today the two London sites that will house the third and fourth COVID-19 vaccinations clinics in the region.

Work is underway at the North London Optimist Community Centre, located at 1345 Cheapside Street and at ice pad A in the Earl Nichols Recreation Centre, at 799 Homeview Road, to convert the facilities into clinics where COVID-19 vaccine will be delivered. MLHU has also been working closely with the City of London to ensure the sites meet all the necessary health, safety and security requirements needed to support the vaccination clinic operations that will happen there. The North London Optimist Community Centre and ice pad A at the Earl Nichols Recreation Centre will remain closed as work to turn the sites into vaccination clinics continues.

“We are committed to supporting our health care partners and our community by ensuring that when we need them, we have facilities available and ready to be used when the time comes for the delivery of vaccines to move into the broader community phases,” said London Mayor Ed Holder.

The vaccination clinics at the North London Optimist Community Centre and Earl Nichols Recreation Centre are not expected to be open to the public for several weeks. Once vaccinations start happening at the facilities, it’s expected that they will remain in use as vaccination sites until at least the fall of 2021.

“These facilities will allow us to expand COVID-19 vaccination efforts in our community, once more vaccine becomes available,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “These sites will provide more flexibility and choice once we are able to scale up the daily delivery of COVID-19 vaccine and increase the number of people who can get vaccinated according to the Province’s prioritization framework.”

While the timing of when the facilities will open will be determined by the Provincial Government, it is anticipated that they will start to be used to support the rollout of Phase Two of Ontario’s three-phased COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. The Health Unit is currently continuing its effort to vaccinate those eligible to receive the vaccine during Phase One of the plan.

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.

Media Contacts:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-617-0570 or
519-663-5317, extension 2469

Patti McKague, Director, Strategic Communications, City of London, 519-854-2873

Spokespeople:
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit

Ed Holder, Mayor of London