As a result of increased COVID-vaccine supply, Southwestern Public Health is expanding the eligibility criteria.
Starting today (Monday), eligibility includes community members who are 80 years of age and older and Indigenous adults who are 55 years of age and older.
Healthcare workers in provincially prioritized groups will also be able to start getting their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible healthcare workers will be contacted by their employer about appointment booking.
Clinics will open the week of March 15 with SWPH expected to set up at Memorial Arena in St. Thomas. Booking details will be shared the week of March 8.
Among the groups now eligible to receive the vaccine are:
• Staff and essential caregivers in long-term care homes, high-risk retirement homes and First Nations elder care homes, and any residents of these settings that have not yet received a first dose of vaccine.
• Alternative level of care patients in hospitals who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care home, retirement home or other congregate care home for seniors.
• Hospital and acute care healthcare workers in frontline roles with COVID-19 patients and/or with a high-risk of exposure to COVID-19.
• Patient-facing healthcare workers involved in the COVID-19 response.
• Medical First Responders (ORNGE, paramedics, firefighters providing medical first response).
• Patient-facing community healthcare workers serving specialized populations.
• Residents and staff in other congregate care settings for seniors, including assisted living facilities.
• Frontline healthcare workers working in hospital inpatient settings and hospital procedural areas, including surgical care, obstetrics, endoscopy, operating rooms, dialysis, imaging, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Other ambulatory and out-patient care areas are not included at this time.
——-
(Update as of 10:15 a.m. March 2.)
SWPH advises the time slots below have all been booked, 5,000 appointments in just two hours. When the vaccine supply increases and more appointments are again available, next week SWPH will share the number to call to book appointments.
——–
Individuals aged 80 or older, and Indigenous adults aged 55 or older, who prefer not to wait can book an appointment at the Western Fair Agriplex beginning March 2 by calling 226-289-3560. Appointments at the Agriplex are limited to March 6-8 only, as vaccine supply remains low.
Visit swpublichealth.ca/COVID19vaccine for a full list of who is currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and other updates about Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy.
