News Archive
SubscribeLower Demand for Vaccine and Increasing Mobile Clinic Options Lead to Closing of Earl Nichols…
After providing tens of thousands of doses of COVID-19 vaccine in London’s south end, the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) will be closing its vaccination clinic at the Earl Nichols Recreation Centre a week from today. The clinic was originally opened on May 21st, 2021, as part of the Health Unit’s effort to increase opportunities for residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, before it was closed on September 3rd as demand for second doses declined. The clinic was then re-opened on January 6th, 2022 after increased community demand, following news in late 2021 that COVID-19 booster dose eligibility had been expanded to include everyone over the age of 18.
GO-VAXX Bus Mobile Vaccine Clinic to Make Return Visit to East London Saturday
Ontario’s GO-VAXX Bus will make a return visit to East Lions Community Centre in London’s Argyle neighbourhood this coming Saturday, February 26th. The Province’s fleet of five retrofitted GO Transit buses has travelled to communities across Ontario, providing COVID-19 vaccine in as convenient a way as possible. Saturday’s visit will be the GO-VAXX bus’s fifth visit to London and the second to the East Lions Community Centre.
Health Unit Rolls Out New Initiatives Ahead of Family Day in Effort to Increase Vaccine Uptake in…
The Middlesex-London Health Unit announced today that it will launch the next phase of its paediatric COVID-19 vaccination campaign, with plans to host and support several child and youth-focused events over the next few days. In partnership with the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), the Health Unit will host a live, one-hour COVID-19 Vaccine Q & A session on Instagram at noon today, for parents and caregivers of children five to 11 years old. The session will be hosted by MLHU Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Alex Summers, and the Children’s Hospital’s Dr. Michelle Barton-Forbes.
Health Unit Lifts Section 22 Order and Letter of Instruction to Align with Provincial Measures
In order to align with the Government of Ontario’s easing of public health measures outlined under the Reopening Ontario Act, the Middlesex-London Health Unit is lifting its Section 22 Order for Food and Drink Establishments as well as its Letter of Instruction to Sports and Recreation Facilities. The Order being rescinded required food and drink to be consumed only while in designated and stationary areas, with a mask being worn at all times, except when consuming food or beverages. The Instruction being rescinded required individuals 12 years of age and older attending an indoor facility for organized sports events to provide proof of full vaccination upon entry, as well as the enforcement of masking, physical distancing and capacity limits at these facilities.
Lingering Frigid Temperatures Prompt Cold Weather Alert Extension
Frigid temperatures and bitterly cold winds are expected to linger longer in the London and Middlesex region, prompting the Middlesex-London Health Unit to extend its Cold Weather Alert for one more day. Originally set to end later today, the Alert will now be in place until tomorrow afternoon. The current Environment Canada forecast calls for a low of -15°C and a windchill of -21 tonight, exceeding the Health Unit’s threshold for an Alert. This windchill is expected to continue into the morning of Tuesday, February 15, before easing back below the threshold in the afternoon.
Notice of Text/Telephone Scam
The Middlesex-London Health Unit received report of a text/telephone scam. A fraudulent text message asks you to click on a link to complete COVID-19 screening questions and provides a fake telephone number to call the Health Unit.
Frigid Temperatures Expected for Our Region this Weekend, Prompt Cold Weather Alert
Very cold winter weather is expected to make a return visit to our region over the next 36 hours, prompting the Middlesex-London Health Unit to issue a Cold Weather Alert that will come into effect the evening of Saturday, February 12 and last until the afternoon of Monday, February 14. While daytime temperatures on Sunday are expected to climb above the Health Unit’s threshold, Environment Canada’s current forecast calls for temperatures to drop and meet the conditions for a Cold Weather Alert both Saturday and Sunday night, with forecast temperatures of -16C and -17C respectively. The Alert will end with temperatures expected to rise to a high of -8C by Monday afternoon.
Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines Now Available at All COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in London and…
As part of its effort to increase the availability of first, second or booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the Middlesex-London Health Unit is making the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty and Moderna Spikevax vaccines available at all its clinics. The decision means anyone who visits a mass vaccination clinic, a pop-up vaccination clinic hosted by the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service or one of the Community Hub COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic in Schools, will be able to receive the mRNA vaccine of their choice. The Health Unit hopes this will encourage more people to receive their booster dose of vaccine. As of the end of January, only 51.9% of all eligible residents 18 years of age and older had received a booster dose of vaccine.
Walk-Ins Now Welcome at All Health Unit Vaccination Clinics
As part of the effort to reduce barriers and increase opportunities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) announced today that walk-ins are now available at all its vaccination clinics. Starting today, those eligible to receive a dose of vaccine can visit the Western Fair District Agriplex, Caradoc Community Centre, Earl Nichols Arena, or any Community Hub COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, without booking in advance. While walk-ins are now welcome, pre-scheduled vaccination appointments can still be booked in advance at www.covidvaccinelm.ca.
Week's Second Cold Weather Alert Issued as Bitter Temperatures and Windchill Values Blanket Region
Bitterly cold temperatures and windchill values are prompting the Middlesex-London Health Unit to issue its second Cold Weather Alert of the week. Environment Canada’s current forecast calls for temperatures to plunge to -25C tonight with a windchill value of -32. While a daytime high of -10C is expected Saturday, the Health Unit’s threshold for an Alert will continue to be exceeded with an expected windchill value of -33 along with an overnight low of -16C. The Alert will remain in effect until Sunday morning when temperatures are expected to rise to -8C.