'The happiest place in Stouffville': Drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic a light at the end of the tunnel

Drive-thru clinic opened at SoccerCity April 12

Yorkregion.com
May 4, 2021
Simon Martin

While the COVID-19 news cycle is depressing, there is a light forming at the end of the tunnel and nowhere is that more evident in Stouffville than on Innovator Drive.

That’s where Stouffville Medical Centre along with help from the town and York Region Public Health is running a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic at SoccerCity.

Dr. Pearl Yang, who is heading up the effort said the goal, is simple. “We want to get as many vaccines in arms as possible because that’s the only way to try and get over this whole situation,” she said.  

Operating since April 12, Dr. Yang said the clinic is still in its infancy and will be operating for several months.  The clinic’s daily high for vaccine doses administered is 850.  The experience of helping people get vaccinated has been a powerful one for Dr. Yang and many others in Stouffville.  

“It’s been really emotional,” she said. “It’s amazing how many people say you what this is the first ray of hope I see. People are coming through crying and people are just so appreciative.” 

Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt can often be found at the exit to the clinic waving and thanking people for coming.  “I joke this is the happiest place in Stouffville but for lots of people it is,” he said. “It’s seeing the relief on people’s faces. You literally see the joy people have.”

The effort is a true community collaboration with 40 to 45 working at a time to make sure things are running smoothly. Stouffville resident Ivan Emke has been able to share some special moments with people from his role working in rest and recovery after people receive their vaccine. “For many people this is the highlight of their year. They are so appreciative that this is there,” he said. “What other job gives you that opportunity?”   

Emke, who has experience in community radio, has also developed a radio station for people to listening to in their cars as they are in the drive-thru. The 22-minute loop that plays has various clips from local people with the goal of creating a relaxed experience.

A vaccine clinic like the one in Stouffville can’t just appear out of nowhere.

Stouffville Medical Centre had been planning an operation like this for close to a year. When the centre started thinking about doing its flu shot clinic last year, Dr. Yang said they thought it would be a great test run for COVID-19 because they knew the COVID vaccine was coming.

The town allowed them to use SoccerCity for the flu shot clinic. Dr. Yang said the flu clinic worked as a good test run and the COVID vaccine clinic is the flu shot clinic on steroids.  The clinic has six doctors vaccinating, a vaccine handler and doctor in rest and recovery. 

Dr. Yang said the operation would have been impossible to pull off without help from the town. “It’s because of Iain that we can do this. When we were doing it ourselves we were like high school theatre and they made it a Broadway musical,” she said.

The town has provided SoccerCity with 10 staff funded through public health. For Lovatt there was never any hesitation in becoming involved. “The fact that we can participate in that is a huge win for the town. It’s our council’s priority is to get everyone in town vaccinated,” he said. “

The appreciation for the clinic was quite evident April 30 when Stouffville resident Jeffrey Han donated McDonald’s Happy Meals to staff and volunteers at the clinic. Others have dropped have coffee and other items. “There is a real sense of gratitude in the community for what is happening here,” Lovatt said.

Please visit www.york.ca/covid19vaccine for eligibility criteria to determine if you are able to book your vaccination. Eligible persons can make an appointment by registering online at www.stouffvillemedicalcentre.ca/covid-19. All vaccinations are by appointment only.