Hamilton’s large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be closing in the coming weeks

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Published July 21, 2021 at 6:04 pm

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Hamilton’s health care partners announced the scheduled closures of the city’s large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

“As the number of people remaining to be vaccinated becomes smaller, and how they would like to be vaccinated changes, Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccine program will begin a careful and measured winding-down of large-scale mass vaccination clinics,” reads an official media release from the City of Hamilton.

The City says the next phase of Hamilton’s vaccine program will see the transition to smaller clinics across the community. It will include pharmacies, mobile pop-up clinics, and two primary care clinics at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre and Winterberry Family Medicine.

Over 75.3 per cent of community members over the age of 12 have received at least one dose, with nearly 60 per cent fully vaccinated.

“While this is good news, this also means there are still many community members who have yet to receive their first dose, and that protection isn’t equally distributed across the community,” said the City.

The planned closure of large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinics is as follows:

  • Hamilton Health Sciences COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic (Wellington Street) will close on Aug 3, 2021.
  • St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton West 5th COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic will close on Aug. 17, 2021.
  • FirstOntario Centre COVID-19 Vaccine clinic will close on Aug. 29, 2021.

“As our vaccine program moves into a new phase our job is far from over,” said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health. “With only six weeks to go until September and back to school, our vaccination efforts remain as crucial as ever.”

“Alongside our partners from across the health care system and local community organizations, we remain committed to increasing vaccine coverage in our community using new channels of outreach and vaccine sites to connect with people who have yet to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and the strong protection it offers to themselves and their loved ones,” she added.

Hamilton Public Health Services says it will notify all individuals who have their second dose appointments scheduled after a clinic closure via text and email with links and information on how to access an accelerated second dose. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline Staff will also reach out by telephone to assist in these efforts, according to the City.

Individuals who have appointments booked after a clinic closure date are being asked to reschedule their appointment or walk into a local clinic offering walk-ins 28 days after their first dose.

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