‘Doses after dark’ COVID-19 vaccine clinics return in Mississauga and Brampton in February

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Published January 26, 2022 at 7:42 pm

Having worked so well this first time around, the ‘doses after dark’ vaccination clinics will be returning to Mississauga and Brampton, starting one week from Saturday.

The off-hours clinics allowed as many as 5,000 people to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 last spring. They will be returning just days after many Ontario COVID-19 restrictions are removed or rolled back.

The first of two 1 p.m.-12 a.m. clinics will be held in Brampton on Feb. 5 at the Save Max Sports Centre (1495 Sandalwood Pkwy E.).

The Mississauga clinic will be held be held the following Saturday on February 12 at Rockwood Mall (4141 Dixie Rd.). First, second and third doses will be available at the both clinics, which will also feature special guests and events to enhance the atmosphere.

“It’s essential workers, it’s people who work odd hours, it’s people who maybe have difficulty with childcare, have trouble finding time to bring the whole family in,” Dr. Lawrence Loh, Region of Peel’s medical officer of health, said during a briefing on Wednesday (Jan. 26). “The aim is to really provide as much convenience as possible for people into those later evening hours on those Saturdays.”

Appointments will need to be made through through Ontario’s online portal.

“We want to make sure that there is no one who doesn’t have the opportunity to get vaccinated who wants to get vaccinated,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said.

Over 3.1 million doses of the vaccines have been given in Peel Region since late 2020, including over 55,000 for the most recent seven-day reporting period (Jan. 19 to 25). Two-dose coverage for the entire population is above 90 per cent, at 90.1 to be exact, and the entire vaccine-eligible population is at 83.2.

However, the region’s tracking suggests third doses, which are now available to anyone 18 and over, are slightly lagging. There is about 40 per cent coverage for third doses, which are available to anyone who is at least 18 years old.

“Two doses are good but three doses are way better at making sure that you can be protected against the circulating strain of Omicron,” Dr. Loh said on Wednesday.

Walk-ins and appointments are also available at Peel Public Health clinics, the region said.

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