Stouffville to have drive-thru vaccine site at SoccerCity

Stouffville Medical Centre to operate drive-thru clinic expected to open next month

Yorkregion.com
March 17, 2021
Simon Martin

Stouffville is going to have a drive-thru vaccine site as soon as mid-April, depending on vaccine availability.

Stouffville Medical Centre, in partnership with York Region Public Health and the town, will run a drive-thru clinic at SoccerCity, 45 Innovator Ave.

Dr. Pearl Yang from Stouffville Medical Centre said the drive-thru facility will offer enhanced accessibility. While the site would be potentially open to anyone, Dr. Yang said for the first few months, they will be predominately focused on delivering vaccines to people from York Region.

"The main goal is getting vaccines in arms," Dr. Yang said. "I couldn’t be prouder of the town and their support."

Dr. Yang doesn’t know what vaccine they will be administering at the site yet or whether they will be using the provincial COVAX booking system or not.

Having run the drive-thru flu vaccine clinic last November, Yang feels confident about this bigger production, which will likely run for several months.

Council and town staff were effusive in their praise of Dr. Yang in being instrumental in bringing the vaccine site to Stouffville.

"Dr. Yang’s leadership in our community is second to none," Mayor Iain Lovatt said.

Without out her innovative approach and desire to get needles into arms, Lovatt said the town might not have a vaccine site. He was also blown away with the time Dr. Yang has spent setting this up.

"This is almost voluntary for her, as she has a practice to run," he said. "We are indebted to your leadership."  

That sentiment was echoed by town chief administrative officer Rob Adams.

"She is really a pioneer and leader in the community," he said. "She has been leading the charge."

According to the agreement between the town, Stouffville Medical and York Region Public Health, the medical centre will provide clinical staff, expertise and care of the vaccines, and commit to holding the clinic for a minimum of three months.

According to the draft site plan of the clinic, vehicles will enter off Innovator Avenue, where they will register in front of the building before looping around the back of the building, where three vaccine stations will be set up.

The town will waive the usual rental fees for the facility and, if required, a building permit fee, plus any ancillary fees.

The loss of revenue/user fees for SoccerCity due to the COVID-19 shutdown for three months (from January through March), plus seven months if the clinic operates April through October, will be approximately $230,000. The town will provide non-medical staffing for the clinic, but will receive reimbursement from public health.