Newmarket’s mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics are transitioning out of community spaces and into York Region offices.
York Region announced March 21 that the remainder of community-led mass vaccination clinics would be ending this month. The list includes the Southlake clinic at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, set to end March 31. York Region will instead operate new clinics out of its offices, with its Yonge Street office in Newmarket opening for vaccinations April 2.
Director of corporate communications Patrick Casey said the region is making “excellent vaccination progress” and is winding down clinics as demand wanes.
“The plan includes adjustments to clinic capacity, hours of operation, staggered closing of mass vaccination sites, opening of smaller clinic sites, and the expansion of the mobile outreach strategy to reach residents who have not yet been vaccinated or received their booster," Casey said.
The region has administered 587,450 COVID-19 booster doses to date, representing 55.8 per cent of the eligible population. Children 11 and younger remain ineligible for boosters, though 62.4 per cent of the five to 11 age group have received a first dose and 40.8 per cent have received a second dose.
The region had already scaled back at its clinics, closing one at the Newmarket Community Centre Feb. 28. Regional public health has planned to start transitioning away from emergency operations and into normal operations in late March.
Medical officer of health Dr. Barry Pakes has previously said if more booster doses are needed for the general public, it would likely be in the fall. He said public health would try to plan for that possibility over the summer.
New clinics will also be opening in Vaughan, Georgina, Markham and Richmond Hill offices. The Newmarket clinic will be at 17150 Yonge, at Eagle Street. Clinics are still offering walk-ins and you can find up-to-date hours or book an appointment at york.ca/covid19vaccine.
“All changes to vaccine operations have been organized to ensure residents continue to have access to COVID-19 vaccines,” Casey said.
