The Ontario government is moving into Phase Two of its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, with a focus on reaching individuals in “hot spot” communities where COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted certain neighbourhoods.
One of those “hot spots” has been identified as the N5H postal code which is the Aylmer area, with a population of approximately 15,000. It is the only “hot spot” identified in the Southwestern Public Health region.
The province will increase vaccine allocations to these “hot spot” communities across 13 public health units, targeting historic and ongoing areas with high rates of death, hospitalization and transmission. The Ministry of Health is working with public health units to ensure timely access to vaccines among the identified communities through all available vaccine delivery channels, including pharmacies, mass vaccination clinics, and mobile teams.
In addition, starting as early as today, individuals with the following highest-risk health conditions will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in Ontario:
- Organ transplant recipients;
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients;
- People with neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis);
- Haematological malignancy diagnosed less than one year ago;
- Sickle cell disease;
- Kidney disease eGFR< 30; and
- Essential caregivers for individuals in the groups listed above.
The province is expecting to reach the majority of this group through hospital clinics by the end of April. Patients in the highest-risk clinical groups will be contacted by their health care providers to set up an appointment for a vaccination.
