Waterloo region's largest COVID-19 vaccination clinic to close next week

The mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Pinebush Road in Cambridge — the largest in Waterloo region — will close next week.

In a news release, the Region of Waterloo said now is the right time because demand for the vaccine has started to wind down. The last day for the clinic will be March 30.

Lisa Anstey, clinic manager from Grand River Hospital, said the clinic was a "special space."

"We were able to find the balance of being efficient while still providing a positive healthcare experience. We have prided ourselves on our mobility clinic, sensory safe space and our outreach as well as our Indigenous culturally aware space and our children's Camp Pinebush area," Anstey said in the news release.

It also hosted a surprise marriage proposal in August.

Since it first opened a year ago, the clinic has administered more than 333,000 doses.

The news comes as the number of people getting doses of the COVID-19 vaccine has stalled.

As of Thursday's update:

• 84.1 per cent of all residents in the region have one dose of the vaccine. That's unchanged from the previous update on March 17.
• 81.1 per cent of all residents have two doses. That is up from 80.9 per cent last week.
• 47.7 per cent of all residents have the third or booster dose. That's up from 47.5 per cent last week.

The region notes people can still access the COVID-19 vaccine through:

• The Boardwalk Vaccination Clinic at 435 The Boardwalk in Waterloo.
• Beechwood Vaccination Clinic at 99 Beechwood Rd. in Cambridge.
• At pop-up clinics at community centres, public libraries and schools.
• Through local pharmacies and doctor's offices.

Appointments are not necessary for the COVID-19 vaccine.

12 people in hospital

There were 12 people with COVID-19 in Waterloo region's three hospitals as of Thursday's update from public health. There were four people in the intensive care unit either with the virus or recovering from it.

There were no new deaths reported.

The number of outbreaks in long-term care and retirement homes rose from one to four on Thursday:

There were also two outbreaks at St. Mary's General Hospital and two in congregate settings.

There were 84 new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday, but that number is considered unreliable because not everyone with symptoms is eligible for testing to confirm their diagnosis.

Ontario reported 661 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and 10 more deaths linked to the virus on Thursday.