While no one is certain when the vaccines will arrive - the city is going to make sure they are set up and ready to go operational in days

By Pepper Parr

February 3rd, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON

In a report to Council today Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation advised that the City has been asked to provide up to three facilities for Phase 2 (March/April to July/August) and Phase 3.

Everything of course depends on just when the vaccine is available.

This task will move very very quickly once the Vaccination Task Force knows when the vaccine will be available.

Burlington Fire Chief Karen Roche said there is preliminary work that is being done now to determine where the locations should be and how they should be operated.

The decisions will be made by the Regional Council on the advice of the Public Health Unit.

The Region has identified a list of criteria for the consideration of immunization sites. Among the locations are schools and private properties that meet their criteria as suitable locations..

• Fairness and equity will be central to these decisions

• City user groups and program providers will be displaced which will further reduce the facility inventory; already operating at a deficit due to current lack of use of school gyms

The region has identified the following as their criteria for selecting a vaccination centre location:

• One room at least 800m2 in size, preference is for 1200m2 (e.g. arena ice pad, 3-4 single gyms)
• Ample parking (minimum 100 spots) adjacent
• Space to be dedicated to the clinic. Separate entrance and exit required for people flow
• Facility must be accessible
• Exclusive use of facility is not required – other components of a multi-purpose facility can continue to be used for community activities
• Emergency power (minimally for refrigerators, preferably for entire facility so clinic can proceed without interruption)
• Accessible via Public Transit
• Heating, Cooling and Ventilation
• WIFI
• Hours of operation: 7 days a week, 8-12 hours a day
• 800-1400 people to be vaccinated at each site daily: goal 140 per hour.

Now which facilities? That’s when different ward Councillors began to speak up for their communities.

The Skyway Area is probably out of the question – the Forestry department is using the space – not that easy to find a new place for them.

A major concern is where is the population located – looking through an age lens. These are the people that are at a higher risk and they may need some help getting to vaccination locations.

The map below provides a look at where the population is by age, and how close they are to possible vaccination locations:

This is where the people are by age – are their sites near them.

Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation is involved on the city side with site selection determination.

He did say that the Public Heath Unit expected to be able to have people make appointments.