Niagara Health will open a new COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at the Seymour Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines, effective Wednesday, February 17.
The hospital will continue to focus on first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine for healthcare workers, including long-term care and high-risk retirement home staff and essential caregivers, and Niagara Health staff and physicians. This is consistent with the provincial government’s priority framework to begin with vaccination of highest risk groups.
“Moving the clinic to one location will significantly increase our capacity in order to vaccinate as many people as possible per day, based on vaccine supply,” said Linda Boich, Niagara Health EVP, Quality and Mental Health & Addictions, Executive Lead, Integrated Care. “It’s a larger location than the temporary structure we originally opened at our St. Catharines Site. We’re using a full rink at the arena, as well as space in the main atrium. Because it’s a larger space, we’re able to maximize our physical distancing efforts and vaccinate more people each day.”
Features of the new vaccination clinic include:
- 20 vaccination booths
- 12 registration desks
- 60 post-vaccination monitoring spots
- Observation bay
- Dedicated entry and exit
- Easily accessible and free parking
The hospital’s clinic was originally opened in a temporary structure at our St. Catharines Site. At that time, the Pfizer vaccine could not be transported between locations, and the province has since provided guidance to allow for safe transport of the vaccine to offsite clinics.
Niagara Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic vaccinated 2,417 highest-risk healthcare workers between January 13 and 20. When the clinic reopens at the arena, vaccinations will continue to be available by appointment only for healthcare workers, using the province’s risk-based framework.
Niagara Health, in consultation with the Community Coordination Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccination, will work with Niagara Region Public Health to evaluate the arena as a potential site for public vaccinations in the future. At this time, the new clinic will only be in use for highest-risk healthcare workers.
The hospital’s clinic is separate from mass immunization planning for the general public, which is being coordinated by Public Health, and is not yet in operation. There currently are no public vaccination clinics for Niagara residents. For information about the COVID-19 vaccine, including any updates about Niagara Region Public Health’s mass immunization roll-out, please visit: www.niagararegion.ca/covid-vaccine
Niagara Health will continue to provide updates on the new vaccination clinic at niagarahealth.on.ca/vaccinationclinic
Media Contacts:
Niagara Health
Mary Taws, Senior Communications Specialist 289-968-1164
Mary.Taws@niagarahealth.on.ca
Niagara Region Public Health
Meredith Maxwell, Manager, Public Health Communications & Engagement
905-688-8248, ext. 7476
Meredith.Maxwell@niagararegion.ca
