The vaccination clinic at the University’s downtown Windsor Hall is set to administer the first of thousands of doses today. After months of planning, the facility will join other community mass vaccination sites in order to inoculate large numbers of the population in the fight against COVID-19.

On Friday, UWindsor president Robert Gordon and Windsor Regional Hospital president David Musyj conducted a media tour of the facility in order to highlight the building’s transformation.

“We’ve been speaking with public health and Windsor Regional Hospital almost on a daily basis for the past year, offering to help in any way we can and to be part of the solution,” said Dr. Gordon. “We’re thrilled that this building will contribute to growing our capacity for vaccinations. As a community-engaged university, we consider it doing our part.”

Musyj said his staff has worked with the University to ensure everything would be in place when it was “time to flick the switch.”

“It’s an ideal site for traffic flow, all at ground level with large areas to allow for registration, vaccination, and observation, all while maintaining necessary physical distancing,” he said.

Musyj expects 200 people will be vaccinated on the first day, growing to 300 by week’s end. As the population age group drops, he projects that number will rise to as many as 1,500 daily.

Vaccination appointments must be booked through the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s website at wechu.org, based on priority as outlined by the provincial vaccination timeline.

Campus Police and Windsor Police Services will ensure building security 24 hours a day. In addition, the City of Windsor is offering free parking on neighbouring streets and city garages nearby. Signage throughout downtown will direct traffic to the site entrance.