North Durham vaccine clinic openings delayed

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

NORTH DURHAM: The opening of COVID-19 vaccination clinic sites in North Durham has been delayed, due to vaccine shortages. “Although additional clinics were scheduled to open in other area municipalities [this week], the Health Department received confirmation from the province for vaccine supply up to March 28th, which indicates there is insufficient vaccine supply to open other clinics as planned. Therefore, the opening of the Ajax Audley Centre clinic site, as well as the north Durham clinics sites in Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock, will be delayed,” read a press release from the Region of Durham, sent out on Monday, March 15th. Recently, the Region of Durham announced these sites would begin to open on Monday, March 15th. However, the shortage of vaccines meant this date had to be pushed back.

“The site will operate on a rotational schedule between Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge,” Scugog Fire Chief Mark Berney told councillors, at a Monday, March 8th meeting.

Late last month, it was announced the vaccination clinic sites would be at the Uxbridge arena, Scugog Community Recreation Centre and the Rick MacLeish Memorial Community Centre in Cannington.

“There is a rotation in place, but those dates will fluctuate depending on [the supply of] vaccines,” Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton said, during a recent council meeting.

Brock Township Fire Chief Rick Harrison said, these sites are tentatively scheduled to run from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Uxbridge regional councillor Gord Highet believes a lot of people will be looking to book appointments at these sites.

“When these get open, I’m sure there’ll be a flood of people [who] want to get in there. I know, I receive a lot of calls and emails from people [asking] ‘when are we getting it?’ The sooner the better, I’m sure, for all of us,” he said.

The Region of Durham’s current priority is to vaccinate residents over the age of 80. Residents can register for an appointment online, at www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment, or by phone, at 1-800-841-2729.

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