A shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses will cause a two-week shutdown of the vaccine administration facility at the Western Fair Agriplex.
The Middlesex London Health Unit announced Wednesday that the centre will cease operations for two weeks, as of the end of the day on Friday, January 22. The move comes after the federal government announced that Pfizer would not be sending any of its vaccine to Canada next week. The health unit says it will use its limited remaining supply to vaccinate long term care home residents. It hopes to have administered initial doses to all long term care residents by the end of the week.
“Since the date and amount of the next shipment of vaccine is unknown at this time, eligibility criteria must be adjusted and second doses of vaccine rescheduled in order to ensure those who are most vulnerable continue to get vaccinated,” Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie said in a statement released Wednesday. “While the delivery date for the next local shipment of the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine still remains unclear, our goal remains to vaccinate all long-term care home residents by the end of this week.”
So far, 9,516 doses of vaccine have been administered at the Western Fair Agriplex. The health unit says it has also given 1,497 doses of the vaccine in long-term care facilities since January 11. According to the health unit, it's hoped second doses will be given to long-term care home staff and residents within 21 to 27 days of their first dose, if there is enough stock. In the event supply issues persist, second doses may have to be scheduled for up to 42 days after the initial dose.
"The closing of the Agriplex due to vaccine supply shortages is disappointing, but temporary," London Health Sciences Centre Chief Operating Officer Neil Johnson said. "We continue to advocate to the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force for adequate supplies and we recognize that we are at the very early stages of the vaccination program in this community.”