Orillia's vaccination clinic has moved.
For the past several weeks, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit had operated a vaccine clinic at Orillia's Waterfront Centre. But as of today, the new location will be a familiar one to many: the former YMCA facility on Peter Street North.
Rebecca Dupuis, the Immunization Program Manager, Clinical Services Department for the Orillia clinic, thanked the city for use of its waterfront building but said the move was necessary.
"The Waterfront Centre is a wonderful space and worked well when the clinic was providing vaccines by appointment only," Dupuis explained. "With the addition of walk-in vaccinations for eligible individuals, the health unit’s needs have changed and required a larger space to allow for additional staff so that greater numbers of people can be served."
In addition, she noted the 300 Peter St. N. location can accommodate those wishing to receive their vaccine by walk-in and has the space to allow them to wait inside, out of the cold.
"Anyone with an appointment has been notified by email of the location change and we have posted signage at Waterfront Centre," said Dupuis.
The new address is on the health unit’s website and has also been shared on social media by both the health unit and the City of Orillia.
All scheduled appointments will be honoured at the new location.
Walk-ins are available on a first-come basis for eligible Simcoe Muskoka residents in the following priority groups:
- First doses for age 5+ and second doses for age 12+
- Boosters for the following provided they are at least 3 months (84 days) from their second dose:
- 40 years of age and older
- Education and childcare staff including educators, custodial staff, administrative staff, and school bus drivers
- Those with highest risk health conditions who have not yet received their booster dose which includes:
- Organ transplant recipients and individuals awaiting organ transplant
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
- Neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis)
- Haematological malignancy diagnosed <1 year
- Kidney disease eGFR< 30
- Individuals who are pregnant at time of vaccination.
- Health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long- term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers)
- Those who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine
- First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members who are 16 years of age or older.
If you need to change or re-book your appointment or want to book a new appointment, click here to go to the provincial portal.
All Ontarians aged 18 and over can book an appointment to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Public health units are adding appointments to vaccination centres on an ongoing basis. Check back regularly. Appointments can also be booked through other channels, including participating pharmacies, select primary care settings, and walk-in clinics.
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka announced the Peter Street facility would be closing in August of 2020. The building was sold in April of 2021 to a private company which later announced plans to create a centre for health and wellness at the location.
However, it's unclear what the future holds for the building, which has remained vacant since the closure.
