Photos: Windsorites line up for second doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

Word of second doses of AstraZeneca being made available without appointments drew a long line of vaccine-seekers to a Shoppers Drug Mart in Windsor.

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Word of second doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine being made available without appointments drew a long line of vaccine-seekers to a Shoppers Drug Mart in Windsor on Sunday.

The unannounced pop-up clinic happened at the Shoppers Drug Mart location beside Market Square at 2109 Ottawa St. near Walkerville.

Although the shots were not restricted to an age group, only those who received their first AstraZeneca dose in the March 10-19 window were eligible.

The line-up stretched outside the store. Some of those waiting earlier in the day said they had been in line for more than two hours.

Shoppers Drug Mart did not disclose information about the clinic broadly. Most of those who attended said they learned of the clinic via direct communication from Shoppers Drug Mart.

An estimated 55,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in Ontario were set to expire on Monday due to the provincial Ministry of Health halting use of the vaccine for first doses.

But on Saturday, Health Canada informed the province that the expiry date on those doses has been extended to July 1.

Last week, the province opened appointment bookings for second doses of AstraZeneca earlier than expected — but only for those who received their first dose March 10-19.