GUELPH – Homewood Health Centre wants to ensure healthcare workers that they don’t have to wait until the new year to get their booster shots.
Starting Wednesday, Homewood is running six vaccine clinics specifically for the region's healthcare workers. It also plans on opening two clinics in the new year.
Clinics are being run at one of Homewood’s campus buildings in Guelph on Dec. 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clinic plans to administer approximately 2,000 doses.
“Access is only open to healthcare workers of Regional partner organizations with limited access to the public. Appointments have been managed internally until we are able to coordinate a public health-based scheduling system through their portal. Broader public access will be granted as of Jan. 6 with more details to come on specific clinic dates,” said John Prieto, director of clinical support services at Homewood.
“Homewood recognizes the value and priority in working with our health partners in maximizing access points to the vaccine. The sooner we can get more shots in arms, the better our communities will be able to manage this ongoing pandemic, preventing illness, death, and ensuring we do not exhaust our already limited health care resources.”
Prieto said Homewood expects vaccinating several hundred people a day as clinics open to the general public. “We recognize that every effort makes a difference in ensuring all people have access to booster doses as soon as possible,” he said.
Since the pandemic began, Homewood offered weekly vaccine clinics for patients and staff at Homewood, totalling to approximately 2,000 vaccines. Now recognizing the impact of the Omicron variant and the rapidly changing pandemic landscape, Prieto said Homewood is keen on supporting a collaborative approach with regional partners.
“The need to get booster doses administered rapidly is recognized as a collective responsibility that will benefit all,” said Prieto.
Unlike the Region of Waterloo, WDG Public Health did not invite local businesses to help administer vaccines in the region.
Communications manager Chuck Ferguson confirmed that Linamar, Homewood Health, as well as some schools are allowing WDG Public Health to run clinics in their buildings as they have space and parking for the smooth running of vaccination sites.
“This has been a great initiative which recognizes the urgent need for all to receive the booster dose as soon as possible. All regions are working diligently to dedicate resources to optimize access and expedite this critical need,” said Prieto.
