The long lines that plagued the Newmarket COVID-19 vaccination clinic earlier this week returned with a vengeance today, leaving many seniors aged 80 and older standing outside for hours in bitter cold temperatures.
The delay was caused by technical issues that created a large backlog, according to Southlake Regional Health Centre, which operates the clinic.
"Early this morning, we experienced some system and process issues resulting in delays as we opened the vaccination centre, which continues to cause long lines," said the Southlake statement.
"We have opened a second arena where there is seating for those who are waiting. We are adding more staff and security to help move people through more quickly. As we continue to vaccinate different age groups and those with mobility issues, we will be modifying our scheduling system to accommodate the different needs of the people being vaccinated."
The long outdoor line stretched from the arena 2 entrance at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex for most of the day, forcing people — including many seniors over 80 years old — who came to get the shot to wait out in the cold before finally getting inside and having to wait some more.
Chiara Villojo and her elderly parents were in line for the better part of four hours on Thursday.
"Our appointment was at 12:50, and we got here just after 12:30. We waited outside until approximately 1:30, and we got inside for another 45-minute lineup, they sat us down on the ice rink for 10 minutes, and then we got up and waited in another line for 45 minutes," Villojo told NewmarketToday after emerging from the arena around 4:15.
"This was with elderly parents, one of whom can't walk. We had to wheel her in there. There was a 100-year-old man in there and there was no shelter, no water for them, no seating for them inside ... Everyone was squished together, too, no six-feet part at all.
"It was terrible, very disorganized. It was a very long day, and this clinic has been running since Monday, so we thought it would have been fixed."
The situation was also condemned by community leaders such as Deputy Mayor Tom Vegh.
"It is not acceptable that seniors who made an appointment to receive their COVID-19 vaccination at the Ray Twinney Complex are forced to stand in line for an hour or more in the cold before being served," he stated on social media.
"This vaccination clinic is not run by the Town of Newmarket; it is being run by Southlake Hospital. The Town has reassigned 10 staff to assist in moving the line-up inside and provide seating."
The technical problems that caused the long delays on Thursday are just the latest stumbling block for the clinic this week.
On Monday, the first day seniors aged 80 and over had appointments, large lines resulted, and then on Tuesday, a power outage created delays.
Nonetheless, the clinic managed to clear the majority of the backlog by around 4 p.m., and York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji told regional council on Thursday morning that many of clinics across York Region have experienced setbacks this week.
"They are having challenges with bookings and line-ups, but a lot of work is being done to address these challenges," Kurji said.
Southlake apologized for how the unexpected delays affecting seniors and essential worker booked to receive their doses on today.
"We recognize that this is a long line for seniors to wait in and we apologize for that. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this. We know that everyone is very eager to get their vaccine, and we are doing our best to get vaccines in arms as quickly as we can."
