Niagara’s mayors, with Regional Chair Jim Bradley, have announced the planned locations of the region’s COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics.
In a news release they said once vaccine supply is available, 11 locations will be used as clinic sites.
- Fort Erie – Leisure Plex
- Grimsby – YMCA
- Lincoln – Lincoln Community Centre
- Niagara-on-the-Lake – Community Centre
- Niagara Falls – MacBain Community Centre
- Pelham – Meridian Community Centre
- Port Colborne – Vale Health and Wellness Centre
- St. Catharines / Thorold – Brock University (free parking)
- Wainfleet – Community Hall
- Welland – YMCA
- West Lincoln – Community Centre
The clinics have been strategically located to ensure that 90 per cent of the population will not have to travel longer than 15 minutes to receive a vaccine. All sites are accessible by public transit.
The Region is also considering other sites in the larger centres, including the ongoing use of the Seymour-Hannah facility in consultation with Niagara Health once they have completed their provincial priority mandate.
The clinics listed will be in addition to local pharmacies and family doctors who may also provide the vaccine when a supply is made available.
Niagara Public Health is not currently booking vaccination appointments yet.
Eligibility for a vaccination is based on Ontario’s three-phased vaccine distribution plan. Public Health will notify residents when it is their turn to book an appointment.
Once supply is made available, the first group to get vaccinated will be those who are 80 years of age and older, as well as Indigenous adults. Niagara Region Public Health will then follow the provincial prioritization criteria, moving through progressively younger age brackets until all persons 60 years of age or older have had the opportunity to get vaccinated.
At that point, essential workers throughout the region, as well as other high-risk residents will be eligible for a vaccine. The Ontario government hopes to open vaccination up to all Ontario residents by early fall.
How do I book an appointment?
Residents are asked to continue being patient as they cannot currently book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. As Niagara will be using the provincial booking system, residents can anticipate being able to book their appointments online or by phone starting in mid March.
Once the provincial booking system is open to the public, Niagara Region Public Health will notify eligible groups through broad communications (via community partners, media, advertising, social media, etc.) as well as its website.