When making an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine, Newmarket residents can book at any clinic in York Region with availability.
York Region Public Health opened a vaccination clinic last week at the Georgina Ice Palace, which is less busy than other locations, and is an easy half-hour drive north of Newmarket.
"Residents of York Region who are 80 and older can book an appointment online or have a family member or support person book an appointment on their behalf, in order to attend a clinic to get their immunization," said Michelle Davis, a site manager of the clinic in Georgina.
Beginning Monday, March 15 at 8:30 a.m., 19,000 additional appointments for COVID-19 vaccination are available to residents aged 80 and older (born in 1941 or before) and highest and very high priority health-care workers who live or work in York Region.
Appointments can be booked at york.ca/Covid19Vaccine.
Here is what to expect if you make an appointment in Georgina to get your shot.
Arrival
The Georgina Ice Palace, at 90 Wexford Dr., has a large parking lot in front of the building.
As in Newmarket, you are asked to arrive for your appointment only 10 minutes beforehand to prevent lines from forming outside the building as much as possible.
"We know people are excited and want to get in here, but if people could ideally come only 10 minutes before, that would be appreciated," said Davis.
There is a designated place for lining up to get in next to the main doors of the arena. Follow the instructions of staff stationed outside, and soon you will be heading indoors.
Getting inside
Once inside the arena, you will find a staff member from York Region Public Health at a table behind a barrier. They will screen you for COVID-19 symptoms and check if you have an appointment before letting you to head further into the clinic.
Wheelchairs are available at this point. Any caregivers escorting someone will need to provide their contact information.
Check-in
You will find more public health workers at tables down the arena hallway, who will officially check you into the booking system for your appointment.
Wait your turn
After being checked in, you will go down some other halls to the rink where the vaccination operation is taking place.
An area for waiting has been created running up one side of the ice pad, with chairs spaced six feet apart if you need to sit down while waiting your turn.
Once at the front of the line, staff at tables will assign you to one of the several vaccination stations set up around the rink.
"An immunizer will hold up a green sign when they are ready for a client and then a municipal staff member will direct you were to go," explained Davis.
Get the shot and wait again
Once you are directed to a vaccination station, sit down, and the health-care worker there will administer the vaccine.
Once that's done, head over to the chairs set up in the middle of the rink and sit down. You will need to wait for 15 minutes to see if you have any adverse reactions to the vaccine.
Check-out
Once you have waited, you can head to the check-out table, where you can choose to have a printed receipt or have one emailed to you.
Once you are checked out, you will be able to leave the arena through a fire exit door and emerge back out in the parking lot.
