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Moderna supply issues force York Region to close 4 vaccination clinics, including Wonderland site

‘Serious’ reduction of vaccines means new eligibility groups, including ages 60 to 64, won’t be able to get a shot

Yorkregion.com
April 12, 2021
Heidi Riedner

New supply issues of the COVID-19 vaccine will force York Region Public Health to close four of its vaccination clinics next week, including the drive-thru site at Canada’s Wonderland.

The Town of Georgina’s clinic and two physician-led clinics are also affected by new delays in the Moderna shipment for York Region, which had been expected to arrive April 12.

“Since the beginning of York Region’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, our efforts have been contingent on the vaccine supply,” said Patrick Casey, the region’s director of corporate communications.

“Regrettably, we are now facing an imminent and serious reduction in vaccines,” he added.

“Due directly to this delay, we are now unable to accommodate many of the newly announced eligibility groups outlined this week by the provincial government, including offering COVID-19 vaccines to residents between the ages of 60 and 64.”

The health department will also reduce the hours of operation at the remaining three public-health clinics, effective Monday, April 12, which will remain in place until additional vaccine supply is received.

Hospital-led COVID-19 vaccination clinics are not affected, primarily due to their reliance on the Pfizer vaccine.

On April 9, York Region Chair and CEO Wayne Emmerson sent an urgent letter to the Minister of Health requesting additional vaccines, outlining the severity of the situation.

Currently, there are a very limited number of COVID-19 vaccine appointments available in York Region this weekend.

As of April 7, the region’s vaccination strategy has resulted in 224,163 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to York Region residents.

This includes:

41,030, doses to people aged 80+, representing 83.7 per cent of residents in this age bracket

26, 862 doses to people aged 75 to 79, representing 79.0 per cent of residents in this age bracket

35,633 doses to people aged 70 to74, representing 67.2 per cent of residents in this age bracket

28,133 doses to people aged 65 to 69, representing 44 per cent of residents in this age bracket

For more information, visit york.ca/covid19vaccine.