Health Department expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include essential workers Group 2

Eligibility for residents 40+ and At-Risk health conditions to be included on May 10

Whitby, Ontario - As outlined by the province, Durham Region Health Department is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine to include essential workers who cannot work from home – Group 2, effective May 7. Area residents who are part of this eligibility group are now able to book appointments at any community mass immunization clinic located in all Durham Region municipalities. To book appointments visit www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment or call 1-888-444-5113.

In addition to the essential workers - Group 2, eligibility will also be expanded to individuals 40 and older, or who will be turning 40 in 2021, as well as to people in the At-Risk health conditions group starting on May 10. Appointments will be available for booking for these two groups at any area mass immunization clinic after 9 p.m. on May 10. To book appointments for all eligibility groups visit www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment or call 1-888-444-5113.

It is important for residents to understand that once appointment bookings open, the website will experience a significant increase in traffic resulting in considerable wait-times when trying to book appointments. Residents are asked to please be patient as they keep trying to access the site.

Individuals should book only one appointment per person. If you already have an appointment and choose to book for another time or at a different clinic location, please remember to cancel the first appointment to avoid duplication, helping to ensure appointments are available for everyone.

Area residents should recognize that as eligibility continues to expand to other age groups and identified categories, demand for vaccine will also increase. It is important to note that eligibility for vaccine does not mean that vaccine appointments will be available immediately.

In addition to area mass immunization clinics, working with community partners the Health Department has developed a strategy to ensure that as many residents as possible are able to have access to COVID-19 vaccines in communities and settings where they live. This includes hot spot pop-up clinics and hot spot mobile clinics for residents living in hot spot postal code areas identified by the province, clinics for individuals living in certain congregate settings, workplace vaccination clinics, and a mobile immunization program for eligible homebound individuals. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan in Durham Region, visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines.

Area residents 40 and older, or who will be turning 40 this year, are also eligible to book appointments through participating pharmacies to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. For information on participating Durham Region pharmacies see https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations. The AstraZeneca vaccine pharmacy program is overseen by the province.

The province has also recently announced the availability of Moderna vaccine at participating pharmacies in hot spot communities. This program is for residents 18 years and older living in the identified Ajax and Pickering hot spot postal code areas L1S, L1T, L1V, L1X and L1Z. For a list of participating pharmacies visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.

The Health Department notes that appointments for all vaccine clinics, including mass immunization clinics, all hot spot pop-up clinics, as well as the provision of mobile clinics, are based on vaccine availability. Once vaccines spots have been fully booked, appointments are no longer available. As additional vaccine is confirmed, more spots will be added.

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For more information, please contact the Health Department