Town CAO Denise Corry gave council an update on the state of vaccinations in Huntsville at their March 22 council meeting.
She said public health has been using the Active Living Centre to conduct a limited number of vaccinations but as an influx of vaccines are expected, they’re looking for a bigger space and have indicated that they’ll be able to conduct 400 vaccinations daily.
Corry said it appears that staff will be able to accommodate the requirements of the health unit on the Don Lough Arena floor and while the vaccination clinic is open some users will be displaced. “There will be a break in some of our services. For example, when the vaccination clinic is open we won’t be able to have the walking track open because we have to meet the maximum number of people within a certain space.”
She said that’ll be effective as of today, March 23. “And that will probably be for some period of time because… we’re hearing rumours that hopefully, you know, everybody will be vaccinated at least once by June. So they have a lot of work ahead of them.”
Corry said while council may hear complaints from some of the displaced user groups “we hope it’s short-lived and hopefully it will provide the opportunity for everybody to get vaccinated much quicker.”
It is still not clear if, and which, pharmacies will be offering vaccinations. Councillor Tim Withey said it is his understanding that they don’t find out “anything until the last second.”
Huntsville Mayor Karin Terziano said she could not reiterate enough the need to take precautions in order to prevent contagion.
“We still need to be very careful and very diligent. The vaccine doesn’t prevent COVID. It just prevents us from getting sick. It doesn’t prevent the spread,” she said. “So, you know, the washing of hands, the social distancing, the wearing the mask, staying within your own cohorts—all that is still really important for another few months and we might be looking at a better summer if we do it.”
More information is expected to be released as it becomes available.
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First of all, in defense of our mayor, I do believe she has commented on this subject a number of times. Secondly, just curious to know if the legion has been discussed as another site for vaccinations, as I am sure they could use the rental money right now and have an elevator to get to the second floor.
“It is still not clear” is an appropriate pull-quote from here, and the whole time from Doug Ford and his unders.
The “pilot project” in Simcoe-Muskoka for age 60-64 to get AstraZeneca (I wish they’d prioritize people who are out in in public or a workplace every day instead, to actually target the spread) after a possible call from our primary care provider, is not taking place. I’m told it’s because they don’t have the vaccine. Why announce the project?
We are so looking forward to getting the vaccine and if it helps to shut down some of our favourite activities at the Summit Centre we will do our bit to keep staying safe and get through this awful Covid and hopefully with time and caution we will be able to put this behind us.
Hate to be a skeptic but I will believe 400 vaccinations in a day when I see it actually happen. If Health Canada changes it’s mind and goes with actual science instead of a political whim and follows the drug manufacturers guidelines instead of 4 months between doses for Pfizer and Moderna then at 400 vaccinations per day we will be at this for quite a while longer. Hopefully the vaccine supply will really ramp up and Johnson and Johnson will actually start to deliver to add to the arsenal or it will be another summer like last year.
Disruptions to some services: Hmmm. Given that we have had a “disruptive” year since Covid, I think we can have equanimity with more so-called, disruptions.
Family Place restaurant is the best. We have enjoyed their Pizza for 40 + years.
Take ours during Covid. Thanks
Wow….a year into this pandemic and the Mayor makes her first statement in support of public health. The election must be getting closer when she will suddenly be the town’s biggest advocate for public health.
The leadership shown by local politicians in this “once in a lifetime” public health crisis has been abysmal. They should all be front and centre on this one.