Staff with the Town of Amherstburg have done an incredible job transforming the Libro Centre into a targeted vaccination site ready to inoculate thousands of residents against COVID-19.
The clinic opens Wednesday at 9 a.m. for residents aged 70 and over who have already booked appointments. There are no walk-in slots. Residents must use the online booking system to make an appointment. Anyone having issues with the online tool can phone a telephone hotline at 226-773-2200.
An estimated 336 people will be inoculated with the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine every day the Libro site is open. About 1,000 people had booked an appointment by Monday, maxing out capacity for the first three days. The site will be open this week from Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. over the next two weeks.
Town staff gave Councillors and members of the media a tour of the operation on Monday. Both rinks are being utilized, one pad for a registration area and the other for the vaccinations. Residents coming to the clinic are advised to use the entrance off of County Road 18. Wheelchairs are available on site for those with mobility issues as the process from start to finish will require residents to walk the length of four football fields.
Essex County Warden Gary McNamara was on hand for the media tour and praised Amherstburg residents for allowing the Libro Centre to be used as a targeted vaccination site.
“I can’t say enough. It’s not easy to give up a beautiful facility like this,” said McNamara. “Thank you for putting up this facility to save lives. That’s the bottom line.”
The Libro Centre is a “truly impressive facility,” said Theresa Marentette, CEO and Chief Nursing Officer of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
“This is a great site and we appreciate your support,” said Marentette. “It really is meeting the needs of our community.”
The Libro site is the second targeted vaccination clinic to open in Essex County and the fifth to open in Windsor-Essex.
The other clinics are:
- The Windsor Family Credit Union (WFCU) Centre in Windsor
- The Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre (NFFRC) in Leamington
- The St. Clair College SportsPlex in Windsor
- Windsor Hall (former Windsor Star building) in Windsor
The health unit is encouraging those with loved ones aged 70 and over to help them book their appointments.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is also available for adults 60 years of age and older in Windsor and Essex County. Those interested in booking an appointment at any of the 57 pharmacies participating in the provincial pilot program should contact a participating pharmacy directly.
The Amherstburg pharmacies listed as part of the pilot project include:
Walmart – 400 Sandwich Street South – 519-736-1964 – www.walmart.ca
Shoppers Drug Mart – 199 Sandwich Street South – 519-736-5435 -- http://www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/covid19
Rexall – 71 Sandwich Street South – 519-736-1022 – www.rexall.ca
