At Monday’s regular Council meeting, Council agreed to allow the Cobourg Community Centre (CCC) to be used as a vaccination clinic from November 5 to March 31, 2022. The HKPR District Health Unit expects that in the next week or so, two groups will be authorized for Vaccination: 1) third (booster) shots for those over 70 and Health Care workers and 2) young children. For Northumberland alone, there are 11,000 in the first group and 5,000 in the second. It’s hoped that these would be vaccinated before the end of the year – people in the first group already double vaccinated would be eligible 6 months after their second shot. Vaccinations would be by appointments managed by the Provincial portal although some (limited) walk-ins would be allowed. A Provincial announcement to this effect is expected in the next week.
But as Councillor Chorley pointed out, the last time the CCC was used as the site for a mass vaccination clinic, the CCC was closed so now, catering to those using the CCC for programs needs to be considered. The planned allocation of rooms and the times are:
The following rooms will be utilized:
- Half of the Gymnasium
- Cameco Rooms
- Seniors Centre; and
- Spoolon Room.
The following dates are when the requested times are being requested:
- November 5, 9, 12, 23 and 26
- December 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 28 and 29
- January 3, 2022 to March 31, 2022
The following times are being recommended:
- 8:00 am until 5:30 pm
The space being occupied will be taken down at night prior to 6:00 pm to allow for evening programing and set-up prior to 8:00 am to allow for the Clinic to operate during the day.
Since some seniors’ space is being used, Emily asked how would their programs be provided?
The response was that some would occur in the evening as now and some might need to be relocated to other Municipal Facilities such as the Market Building. But the Market building does not have free parking like the CCC so this problem would need to be addressed. In any event, vaccinations at the CCC will be able to start November 5. Available appointments will be uploaded to the Portal this Friday – there is currently no link available for these appointments.
Parking? Surely parking fees are of little or no consequence to those who can afford to own and operate a motor vehicle.
I would think that a downtown location would be largely for those who live nearby and don’t own a vehicle anyway. We don’t care a toss about parking fees.
I wonder if they could have rent the Lion Centre instead, there parking , and not much is happening during the day
also the Lion centre probably could use the rent money
Excellent suggestion!
Why waste money on renting the Lions Centre? The CCC is paid for by the taxpayers and is rather little used. The issue of limited free parking at the Market Building is irrelevant.
Councillor Chorley made it an issue because it seems the daytime loss of programming is more important than ensuring people are vaccinated.
Do you know if the town is letting the health unit use the CCC for free ?
Costs are being recouped from the health unit through the province.
And the health unit just increased their charges to Northumberland County (hence to Cobourg residents) by 5%!
??
Concerned, see this article for more details of the additional tax: https://todaysnorthumberland.ca/2021/11/03/health-unit-levy-on-northumberland-county-rises-5/
In that case, one would think other facilities should have had the opportunity to bid on the clinics. I wonder if anyone else was given the opportunity?
Bid?? No it is a free of charge deal to the Health Unit and they are recouping losses to the town from the province on our behalf?
Please help me to understand. A senior exercise facility that will cost every one of Cobourg’s 6000 seniors $5-10 EACH is approved by Council with almost no discussion of the unwarranted cost. The temporary relocation of some CCC services to the Market Building to provide room for a vaccination clinic may result in a few (perhaps a dozen?) seniors having to pay $2 for parking. Why is the expense an important consideration in one case but not the other?
As far as parking there is ample free parking in the area near the Market Building ….. Covert parking lot and Albert street across from the Market Building ….. besides a number of folks that I know are delaying in partaking in such activities for now and would rather get the booster shot and get the kids vaccinated ….. maybe the town should consider free parking from Nov to April to encourage shopping and visits to Cobourg as I am sure that most of the parking revenue takes place in the Summer ….
This is an excellent suggestion
There is free parking in the two lots north of the Harbour- after Thanksgiving Weekend to just before the May Long Weekend.