After eight months in operation, the mass vaccination centre at Devonshire Mall will give out its last shot this weekend.
"It's been interesting to see the transition of people. They've gone from happy to sad to angry to desperate. I've seen all the emotions on patients," said Jennine Meloche, a nurse who has worked at various vaccine clinics throughout the region.
Officials say the centre administered over 220,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and set an example of what a mass vaccination centre should look like for the entire province.
All mass vaccination sites throughout Windsor and Essex County were collaborations between the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, the local hospitals, and local municipalities. Staff at the hospital and in the City of Windsor were redeployed to assist with the operations of the vaccine centres.
"They didn't sign up for that, but they eagerly agreed. They said, 'this is the right thing. This is what I need to do for our community now,' and they were all mobilized, as many of you were mobilized, in this mini-war effort to get shots in arms, to keep the community safe, to get us where we are today," said Mayor Drew Dilkens.
The City of Windsor redeployed 166 employees to work at the operations at Devonshire Mall.
To date, 83.4 per cent of eligible residents have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and 50.9 per cent have had a booster shot.
Despite the vaccine clinic closing, Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj is reminding people the pandemic isn't over.
"There are still plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated in the community. This does not stop the need for vaccinations," said Musyj.
