'It's never been easier': Mass vaccination sites open for walk-ins, but are Londoners showing up?
It’s never been easier to get your COVID-19 vaccine if you're eligible, that’s the message the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is trying to drive home, but are Londoners getting the message?
As of Tuesday, area mass vaccination sites were officially opened up to walk-ins for those 12 years old and up.
"I made an appointment this morning at nine o'clock and there was appointments available throughout the entire day,” says Jason Ratz, a London resident who got his second vaccine dose at the Western Fair District Agriplex.
Only months ago, people were competing for an appointment slot -- now all they have to do is walk in.
“We want people who have waited this long to not wait any longer, it’s really time to get your vaccine and it has never been easier,” says MLHU associate medical officer of health, Dr. Alex Summers.
Mike Watters was able to get his second dose an hour ahead of schedule at the Agriplex.
"It was absolutely empty in there, in and out no problem, quite happy.”
While an appointment is no longer necessary at any of the mass vaccination sites, most people CTV News London spoke with Wednesday, had made one anyway.
But over at the latest vaccine pop-up clinic, people were pouring in on short notice.
Susan Faist walks to a pop-up clinic at Westminster Secondary School in London, Ont. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
Susan Faist walks to a pop-up clinic at Westminster Secondary School in London, Ont. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
"Lets get it done and get on with life,” says Susan Faist, who jumped on her first chance to get her second dose at the pop-up clinic, located at Westminster Secondary School.
“I went online and looked for a pop-up clinic, I have an appointment for the third of August but thought if there was one closer I would go to it.”
Travis Mcarthur brought his two daughters, 17-year-old Amihan and 12-year-old Taya, to all get their second doses.
“We just jumped on it. People out there who haven’t gotten their (vaccine) may think it’s too difficult to get it through email or phone, it's real easy to just come out and do it.”
Travis Mcarthur and his family arrive to get second COVID-19 vaccine doses at a pop-up clinic in London, Ont. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
Travis Mcarthur and his family arrive to get second COVID-19 vaccine doses at a pop-up clinic in London, Ont. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
Summers is encouraging Londoners to spread the word about the mass vaccination sites.
He says getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and other from the illness and the Delta variant.
“Because the Delta is so infectious, if you don’t get vaccinated you are not going to be able to rely on herd immunity to protect you, which is really unfortunate. It is so infectious that you need to get yourself vaccinated to protect yourself.”
Hours at mass vaccination sites changing
With more than 79 per cent of eligible residents having received at least one dose and nearly 57 per cent fully vaccinated as of Saturday, the MLHU is planning for a drop in demand.
Starting in August, the hours at the region's mass vaccination clinics will be reduces as the focus shifts to more mobile and pop-up vaccination clinics as well as community events.
Here's how things will change:
North London Optimist Community Centre Vaccination Clinic
- Clinic will be closed for the Civic Holiday weekend (July 31, Aug. 1 and 2)
- Clinic will reopen on Tuesday Aug. 3, and will operate Tuesday to Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- The clinic’s last day of operation will be Saturday, Sept. 4.
Earl Nichols Recreation Centre Vaccination Clinic
- Clinic will be closed for the Civic Holiday weekend (July 31, Aug. 1 and 2)
- Clinic will reopen on Tuesday Aug. 3, and will operate Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- The clinic’s last day of operation will be Friday, Sept. 3. (Please note that the Earl Nichols vaccination clinic will be brought back into service in October, if necessary.)
Caradoc Community Centre Vaccination Clinic
- Clinic will be closed Sunday, Aug. 15 and Monday, Aug. 16
- Clinic will reopen on Tuesday Aug. 17, and will operate Tuesday to Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Western Fair District Agriplex Vaccination Clinic
- Will continue to operate seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through the month of August
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.