Starting Friday, April 16, more priority groups identified in the Province’s vaccine distribution plan will be eligible to book appointments through Halton’s online booking system.
“We continue to follow direction from the Province on prioritization and we are pleased to be able to expand to these priority populations,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “In addition to our mobile teams, our community clinics operate seven days a week and I cannot thank staff enough for the hard work they are doing each and every day. We will keep opening up appointments to our community as long as supply continues to be provided by the Federal and Provincial Governments.”
In addition to the groups currently eligible for vaccination, the following populations can begin booking vaccination appointments starting Friday, April 16:
- Individuals (age 18 and older) with highest-risk and high-risk health conditions and one essential caregiver:
- highest-risk health conditions include: organ transplant recipients; hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients; and people with neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis), haematological malignancy diagnosed within the past year, or kidney disease (eGFR <30): and
- high-risk health conditions include: obesity (body mass index over 40), or receiving treatments causing immunosuppression (e.g., chemotherapy, immunity-weakening medications), and intellectual or developmental disabilities (e.g., Down syndrome).
- Essential workers (age 18 and older) who cannot work from home (Group 1 as identified by Province):
- elementary/secondary school workers (including educators, custodial, school bus drivers, administrative staff);
- workers responding to critical events (including police, fire, special constables, children’s aid society workers, emergency management, and critical infrastructure restoration workers);
- enforcement, inspection and compliance roles (including by-law enforcement, building inspectors, food inspectors, animal welfare inspectors, border inspection officers, and labour inspectors/WSIB field workers);
- all licensees, employees and students on an educational placement who interact directly with children in licensed child care centres and in authorized recreation and skill building programs;
- licensed home child care and in-home service providers, employees of a home child care agency and students on an educational placement;
- foster care agency workers (including customary care providers);
- food manufacturing and distribution workers;
- agriculture and farm workers; and
- funeral, crematorium and cemetery workers.
- Adults 50+ in an identified hotspot area (Adults 50 years of age and older living in the L9E postal code area, in Milton).
- Remaining health care workers who live or work in Halton and cannot work from home.
Halton Region continues to follow Provincial direction on prioritization and does not have the authority to grant exceptions. The availability of appointments will be contingent on supply.
“We are firmly into Phase 2 of the provincial vaccination plan and making significant progress in our vaccination efforts in Halton,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “All vaccines approved by Health Canada are safe and effective in preventing severe illness and complications from COVID-19. If you or someone you know is eligible, I encourage you to get vaccinated to not only protect yourself but keep our community safe and healthy.”
Thera are also 19 pharmacies now offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to all residents 55 years of age and older. The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective and Halton Region Public Health highly recommends residents to book through the pharmacy of their choice as another option to gain protection from COVID-19. Residents can quickly and easily find a location and learn how to book an appointment at a local pharmacy by visiting ontario.ca/PharmacyCovidVaccine. Appointments must be booked directly with the pharmacy and cannot be booked through Halton’s system or 311.
Important information & instructions:
- On Friday, April 16, more eligible groups can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through Halton’s online booking system. This includes Halton residents with highest-risk and high-risk health conditions and one essential caregiver, essential workers who cannot work from home in Group 1, Halton residents 50 years of age and older living in the identified hotspot area of Milton (L9E postal code area) and any health care worker who cannot work from home. For a complete list of who is eligible and who will be eligible next, please visit halton.ca/COVIDvaccines.
- While booking online is the fastest way to schedule an appointment, residents can also call 311 if they require booking support. Residents who are not currently eligible to receive the vaccine are asked not to call 311 or visit the online booking system to ensure eligible residents have access.
- Vaccinations at Halton’s clinics are by appointment only (no walk-ins) and must be booked through Halton Region’s online system or through 311. Please do not contact clinics directly. Bookings for Halton residents are not available through the Provincial booking system; residents who access the Provincial booking system will be guided back to Halton’s system.
- Vaccinations at a participating pharmacy are by appointment only (no walk-ins) and must be booked directly through the pharmacy. Please do not call 311 for pharmacy appointments. If you are 55 or older, please visit ontario.ca/PharmacyCovidVaccine to find a location and information on how to register and book.
- Eligible residents can book appointments at any one of Halton’s six COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics located in Burlington (including Joseph Brant Hospital), Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville (including Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital). Residents are reminded that parking is free at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and Joseph Brant Hospital for those with scheduled appointments at these clinics.
- Residents who have already scheduled an appointment for vaccination through Halton Region can verify their appointment details directly online, including appointment time, date and location.
- Halton Region continues to offer transportation services to and from appointments for residents who require support, free of charge.
- All appointments are contingent on the availability of vaccine supply.
- To maintain physical distancing and safety measures, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment (not earlier) and remember to wear a non-medical mask.
To learn more about Halton Region’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program, including who is currently eligible, who will be eligible soon, and how to book an appointment, please visit halton.ca/COVIDvaccines.
The Regional Municipality of Halton serves more than 595,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; paramedic services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; housing services; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, call 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at halton.ca.