What activities have taken place over the past few weeks?
- 58,870 first doses have been administered to HPEC residents and 4,388 individuals are now fully immunized (please note number of vaccines includes residents who may have received a vaccine from an out of area pharmacy).
- 5,565 doses have been administered in the past 7 days.
- 35% of adults in HPEC have received at least one dose.
- Age-based community clinics for those 55 years of age and older are continuing in Belleville, Quinte West, Picton, Madoc Township and Bancroft. Individuals aged 55 or older can book through the provincial booking site at Ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by calling 1-833-943-3900. If no clinics are available (greyed out on calendar) please check back regularly.
- Effective Thursday May 6 all those 50 years of age or older as well as the First Group of the Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home (Appendix B) will also be eligible to book an appointment through the provincial booking site Ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by calling 1-833-943-3900. Please note that eligibility does not necessarily mean you will be able to book an appointment right away and please check the booking website regularly as more appointment times are being added regularly.
- Some groups that were previously only able to book over the phone (eg. licenced child care workers and highest chronic heath conditions) will be able to book through the online booking site at Ontario.ca/bookvaccine starting Thursday May 6.
- HPEPH is continuing efforts to ensure all those included in Phase 1 eligibility have the opportunity to get their vaccine. Certain groups including health care workers have received invitations from us to attend special ‘catch-up clinics’ running in May.
- Pharmacy appointments are also available for anyone aged 40 and older and registration with several different pharmacies is recommended. Locations of all pharmacies offering vaccines is available at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.
- Individuals are encouraged to take advantage of the earliest possible opportunity to get vaccinated.
Who are the immediate and current priority for first-dose vaccination?
- Phase 1 Priority Groups
- Residents 55 years of age or older (40+ at pharmacies)
- Licensed child care workers.
- Special education workers.
What are the next steps in Phase 2 Roll Out?
Beginning May 6, the following groups will become eligible to book:
- Group 1 Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home (includes all school staff)
- Residents 50 years of age or older
Next steps in Phase 2 will include expanding booking eligibility to the following groups:
As early as the week of May 10:
- Second Group of Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home (Appendix B)
- People with certain At-Risk Health Conditions
- People aged 40 and older
As early as the week of May 17 – People aged 30 and older
As early as the week of May 24 – People aged 18 and older
What about second doses for those who have received a first dose already?
- Ontario has accepted recommendations from NACI (National Advisory Council on Immunization) to extend the vaccination dose interval up to four months for all Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines.
- If you have received a first dose of the vaccine and do not have a second appointment, you will be contacted by HPEPH to book your second dose appointment. If you would like additional reassurance that you will be contacted when it is time to book your second dose appointment, please complete our pre-registration form for second dose appointments. Please do NOT call HPEPH or your health care provider to book your second dose appointment. You will be contacted to book your second dose at the appropriate time.
