The mass vaccination clinic at the Western Fair Agriplex has received an upgrade.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit has slightly revamped the clinic with kids aged 5-11 now eligible to get their first dose of the vaccine.
"Families are very excited to be here," said Tracey Gordon, the manager of the clinic. "We had families with children who are quite concerned about coming to get the vaccine, and by the end, we had one parent say they can't get (their kids) to leave."
As of Wednesday, there had been more than 4,500 children vaccinated in Middlesex-London. Just over 3,500 of them had been vaccinated at the Agriplex.
Features at the Agriplex include "Look and Find" games, counting activities and more, all with a superhero theme. Kids also receive 'stress stars' to squeeze if they're nervous, and stickers to collect after each dose.
Families wait to receive their shots in pods that are decorated with different themes.
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"They seem to be really excited about it," said Gordon. "Once they get into the pods, they're really a big hit. The children are very engaged. They love the stress stars and they love the stickers."
The entire process for a family takes about 40 minutes. Slightly longer than the 30 minutes it takes for an adult to go through the process.
Adult bookings are still permitted at the Agriplex. The Health Unit has also set up a walk in clinic at Masonville Place, which is accessible for both children and adults.
"We are hoping and really encouraging families to come before (booster bookings for people aged 50+ open)," Gordon said, acknowledging that many families would want to come over Christmas break. "We can keep a certain number of slots open for families at all times."
You can book an appointment at the Agriplex by clicking here.
