Leamington COVID-19 vaccination clinic opens next week

The Windsor-essex County Health Unit expects the region's daily number of people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will double with the opening of a vaccination clinic in Leamington next week.

The premises of the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre (formerly the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex) are set to begin receiving community residents ages 80 and older for pre-registered vaccinations on Monday.

With the new clinic, Dr. Wajid Ahmed of the Windsor-essex County Health Unit said the region's total daily vaccinations should be close to 400.

“I can say with confidence, in terms of the percentage of people vaccinated by population, Windsor-essex is right up top,” Ahmed said.

“As a community, as a region, we have done a great job, and we will continue to do that. We will continue to go through the list.”

Once open on Monday, the Leamington centre (249 Sherk St.) will be the second location in the region converted into a targeted vaccination site.

COVID-19 vaccinations started at the converted WFCU Centre on March 1.

Like the WFCU Centre, the Leamington clinic's initial hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

All vaccinations are by appointment only. Walk-ins are not permitted. Members of the public 80 years of age or older must pre-register online via the health unit's website, wechu.org.

For help with the pre-registration form, call 519-251-4072.

The health unit reminds the public that the vaccine supply is limited, and those who pre-register are being selected for appointments through a randomized system.

Theresa Marentette, health unit CEO and chief nursing officer, has said Windsor-essex is currently receiving about 1,950 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per week.

The number of residents of the region in the 80 and older category has been estimated at 20,000.

Members of the public are asked to continue to observe public health measures as vaccination efforts continue.

As of Friday, 11,607 people in Windsor-essex have received the required two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.