Rec Complex set up as mass vaccination site

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — The flow of traffic into the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre was steady on Monday, as the complex opened up for COVID-19 vaccinations of people 80 years and older.

On Friday, members of council and administration were able to tour the site and get a sense of the preparedness in the complex staff.

Recreation Manager Terry Symons, told the tour that his staff has risen to the occasion for this event.

“I can’t say enough about how the team has worked to bring this all together,” he said.

Leamington CAO Peter Neufeld, echoed Symons’ sentiments.

“I’m so proud of the whole crew,” he said. “They’ve really come together to do this.”

Leamington recreation employee, Kristen Curchin, explains the flow of traffic for COVID-19 vaccine recipients at a tour of the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre last Friday. Vaccines for those 80 years and older started Monday.

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All recreational staff have been called upon to help out with ushering, marshaling and making sure all vaccine recipients are comfortable, safe and taken care of.

Upon arrival, those with pre-arranged appointments will register and receive a wrist band in the parking lot. They will then be guided into the building, and if a companion is needed, the companion will also be guided in. Wheelchairs and other mobility aids will be available to help ease the stress of the situation.

After you register with the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, you’ll be ushered into the gymnasium, where nurses await your arrival. After your vaccine, you’ll be asked to wait either 15 or 30 minutes — depending upon your health — in a chair, until it’s time to exit the gym.

You’ll also be given a card with your second vaccine appointment.

The rollout will begin slowly, according to officials, with about 150-200 people being vaccinated per day and ramping up from there.

They fully expect to expand onto the arena ice/floor surfaces as the younger groups starting making appointments.

“We may need to shift everything to the arena floors if the vaccine supply starts to flow quickly,” said Neufeld. “But we are prepared to do that on a moment’s notice.”

Among the first arrivals on Monday morning was this vehicle, getting instructions from Rec Complex employees before proceeding to the parking lot.

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As for recreation programs, they are on hold until the vaccines get into the arms of the general adult population.

That could mean that pickleball, aquatics, weightroom and fitness programs, may not happen this spring, unless neighbouring municipalities offer up some space.

“We are working on that now,” said Neufeld.

Along with Leamington, there is talk of Amherstburg and possibly Lakeshore also hosting vaccination sites in the county. The WFCU Centre in Windsor started last week and vaccinated over 900 with their first doses.

If you are 80 years or older and would like to pre-register for a vaccine, you can do so online at wechu.org or you can call 519-251-4072.

So far, over 11,000 Windsor Essex residents have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with the vast majority of those being healthcare workers and long term care residents.

Chairs sit spaced apart in the gymnasium at the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre, awaiting people who have received their vaccination.

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