York, Halton Regions expands COVID-19 vaccinations to residents +75 years
Posted March 17, 2021 5:43 pm.
Last Updated March 18, 2021 3:36 pm.
York Region says residents who were born in 1946 and before can book appointments beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 18.
The region says it’s advancing eligible residents for COVID-19 vaccinations to residents age 75 years and older as it continues to deliver vaccines identified in the province’s vaccine distribution plan.
Vaccines will be available for the new eligible priority group at these locations:
- Aaniin Community Centre (Opening Monday, March 22, 2021)
- Cornell Community Centre
- Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital
- Georgina Ice Palace located
- Maple Community Centre
- Ray Twinney Recreation Complex
- Richmond Green Sports Centre
The clinic dates and times vary for each location and they recommend people go online to York’s website to check for clinic details.
Halton Region is following suit with the public health unit announcing Thursday that starting Friday, eligible residents can book through its online system, including residents aged 75-and-up and Indigenous adults who live in Halton aged 55-plus.
Clinics are now open in all Halton municipalities including Burlington, Halton Hills, Oakville, Milton.
“This is another important step in our plan to get our most vulnerable Halton residents vaccinated as quickly as possible, as supplies are available,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr.
“I would like to thank Halton Region, Joseph Brant Hospital, and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital staff who have been working tirelessly to open our vaccination clinics in each of our municipalities, and our teams who have been doing a tremendous job administering vaccinations.”
Halton health officials say additional locations will continue to be identified as required. Residents are reminded that appointments must be booked through Halton’s online booking system or through 311.
Premier Doug Ford says over 225,000 appointments have now been booked through the province’s online portal over the last three days.
“As of last night, nearly 50 percent of all residents aged 80-or-over have now received their first dose,” said Ford.
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York’s chief medical officer, Dr. Karim Kurji says 68 percent of residents 80 and older are now vaccinated, “what happens is when you get to about 70 percent, or maybe slightly less than that, the numbers that are booking in the mass clinics in that age group goes down”
Kurji says they are starting to see a decline in registrations, “so it’s imperative that we kind of keep moving ahead with other priority groups because otherwise, you know you won’t be using your clinics as efficiently.”
Kurji adds he expects another age bracket to open in seven to 10 days.
Residents can book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments online or by phone.
“York Region Public Health, in partnership with our hospital and paramedic services partners, is working to ensure all eligible and vulnerable residents who cannot attend a clinic receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The approach to reach these homebound individuals is through our mobile outreach teams; however, some may also find the drive-thru clinics opening soon as a good option,” the region says in a statement.
“Outreach will begin to homebound individuals receiving homecare next week. The drive-thru site at Canada’s Wonderland is scheduled to begin operations the week of March 29, 2021. Drive-thru clinics will also be by appointment only.”
York says as the vaccine supply increases, it encourages residents to keep checking for appointments that become available and is asking residents to cancel any appointments they do not plan to use.
Premier Ford called out the region earlier this week, questioning the health units move to start administering COVID-19 vaccinations to frontline workers when some seniors over 80 still haven’t received the shot.
The Premier says the province’s vaccine infrastructure is quickly expanding, renewing a call for Ottawa to speed up deliveries.
“If we have the vaccines and it’s just full throttle, we could bang out 7-8-9 million [doses] in a month if we go full steam.”
The region began vaccinating those in the 80 and above age group at the beginning of the month and they are now expanding COVID-19 vaccinations to include eligible frontline health care workers, like massage therapists and naturopaths.
