On April 5, a convenient new immunization clinic will open at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre curling rink at MacDonald Island Park in Fort McMurray.
This clinic is made possible through partnerships with Alberta Health Services, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and venue operators.
“These new sites will help us achieve our goal of offering every adult Albertan the vaccine by June 30. I want to thank everyone involved for working together to protect public health. Vaccines are the path out of the pandemic: they protect all of us, save lives, and reduce the burden on hospitals and other health services. When your turn comes, please book an appointment as soon as you can.”
“This collaboration with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo creates a unique opportunity for AHS to deliver COVID-19 vaccination on a larger scale in northern communities. We are grateful for their participation and support in making this opportunity a reality.”
“MacDonald Island is, in many ways, the heart of our community. Convenient and safe access to COVID-19 vaccines is key to the health and well-being of residents, and the social and economic recovery of our communities. As a region, we are committed to doing everything we can to keep each other safe and we are pleased to partner with AHS to help in this important public health effort. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to those who worked to make this possible for our residents. We will emerge together from this pandemic and we all have a role to play in making that happen.”
“I’m thrilled to see increased access to vaccinations within our region. By using a larger facility with better parking, more people will be able to access their shots faster and safer. This is a logical step in the right direction.”
“This new immunization site is bigger and more convenient. It will help us get more people the vaccine, which will protect all of us. The faster we can administer these vaccines, the quicker we can safely get back to normal.”
All COVID-19 vaccination appointments booked through AHS in Fort McMurray will be at the MacDonald Island Park curling rink as of April 5.
The MacDonald Island Park facility’s central location, as well as access to parking and transit, makes it an ideal site for an immunization centre.
Once operational, the MacDonald Island site will host approximately 10 vaccination stations with capacity to expand to 20 stations depending on vaccine availability. At 20 vaccination stations working to full capacity for eight hours, 1,285 Albertans could be vaccinated by appointment each day at this site.
COVID-19 immunizations will not be offered at the Fort McMurray Wolverine Community Health Services’ Thickwood Medical Centre after April 4. Those who had previously booked appointments there will receive SMS text notification directing them to attend the MacDonald Island Park site for their appointment.
There are no drop-in appointments at the site. Protocols will be implemented to ensure proper physical distancing, cleaning and sanitization.
AHS staff will screen everyone for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entering the vaccination area. The security, health and safety of all people entering the facility is of the highest importance. If you are unwell and have any COVID-19 symptoms, please rebook your appointment.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Quick facts
- New Fort McMurray clinic (1 C.A. Knight Way):
- The immunization clinic can be accessed by using the main entrance.
- The MacDonald Island site in Fort McMurray will operate between eight and 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for those eligible and with pre-booked vaccination appointments.
- Hours of operation will be based on vaccine supply.
- To book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment when eligible, use the AHS online booking tool, call 811 or contact a participating pharmacy.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this release contained an error.