A lack of vaccine supply has led local health officials to pump the brakes on a fourth vaccination clinic in the London area.
The region's medical officer of health said Monday that the three clinics currently operating in the area aren't running at full capacity due to the shortage, and that has put plans for a fourth clinic on hold.
"Each of the three clinics we operate and in partnership with LHSC, are running between 35 and 65 per cent capacity and that's because we have about twice as much capacity as we need to use all the vaccines that are being sent here," Medical Officer of Health Dr. Mackie said during Monday's COVID-19 media briefing.
A fourth clinic planned for Earl Nichols Arena scheduled to open by March 29, is being delayed indefinitely.
"We don't have the supply for a fourth vaccination centre, if we did it would be open before the end of the month," Mackie explained. He noted additional appointments remain available in the booking system over the next two weeks, particularly at the North London Optimist Community Centre which opened last Wednesday.
Overwhelming traffic on the health unit's booking website has caused some people to look elsewhere to get their vaccines. Dr. Mackie said he isn't worried about people travelling to other counties as long as they follow the public health guidelines and corresponding COVID-19 response framework measures.
"The provincial tracking system means that we will know where people have gotten their shots before, and the automatic second appointments which are generated will likely be at the same clinic [where people got their first shot.]" said Mackie. He added when the time comes, those wanting to move their second dose to a clinic in the region should be able to do so by phone.
With the arrival of a vaccine program being piloted in some pharmacies for people aged 60-64, Mackie said he isn't sure when it could be available in the London area as the program is being coordinated by the provincial government directly with the selected pharmacies.
As of last week, 54,508 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in London-Middlesex.