Hamilton youth encouraged to ‘roll up their sleeves’ and get vaccinated before school year
Published July 23, 2021 at 3:42 pm
With the 2021 school year a little more than a month away, Hamilton’s health care partners are encouraging students who are 12 and older to get vaccinated prior to the Sept. 8 start date.
Public Health says youth should receive their first dose by July 27 and their second dose by Aug. 24.
“No young person ever wants to hear the words ‘back-to-school’ in July,” said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health. “That’s different this year, as a safer return to school can be helped by community members ages 12 and over rolling up their sleeves and getting a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and then getting fully vaccinated at least 28 days later.”
“There are clinics offering walk-ins for first and second doses across Hamilton, so to protect the ones you love, and get back to what you love — get your COVID-19 vaccine today,” Dr. Richardson added.
To date, 64.5 per cent of Hamilton youth ages 12 to 17 have received the first dose to date and 39.1 per cent have completed their vaccine series.
700,857 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
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Upwards of 76.3 per cent of Hamiltonians over the age of 18 have received a vaccine to date with 62.1 per cent having completed their vaccine series.
“With September and back-to-school quickly approaching, getting strong protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant is especially important,” reads a statement from Hamilton Public Health.
“… COVID-19 has had a devasting impact on many of Hamilton’s young people, including their emotional well-being due to the social isolation brought on by remote learning and other public health restrictions. To ensure this coming school year can be as normal as possible, increasing local vaccination coverage rates is the best way to protect school communities from the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.”
Community members can get their first and second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at large-scale clinics, primary care-led clinics, mobile pop-up clinics, and local pharmacies.
Vaccines can be accessed both on a walk-in basis at many of these locations or by booking an appointment.
More information can be found at: hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.
The Hamilton healthcare partners continue to make progress in vaccinating members of the community who fall into the Province’s COVID-19 Vaccination Framework. We are pleased to announce that to date, we have administered approximately 700,857 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Upwards of 76.3 per cent of Hamiltonians over the age of 18 have received a vaccine to date with 62.1 per cent having completed their vaccine series. In addition, 64.5 per cent of youth ages 12-17 have received a first dose to date and 39.1 per cent have completed their vaccine series.
With September and back-to-school quickly approaching, getting strong protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant is especially important. To be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the start of the school year, you must receive your first dose by July 27, 2021, and your second dose no later than August 24, 2021. Hamilton Public Health Services is encouraging community members ages 12 and over to get a COVID-19 vaccine, as soon as possible, to protect those they love, and get back to what they love. COVID-19 has had a devasting impact on many of Hamilton’s young people, including their emotional well-being due to the social isolation brought on by remote learning and other public health restrictions. To ensure this coming school year can be as normal as possible, increasing local vaccination coverage rates is the best way to protect school communities from the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.
There are many locations in Hamilton for community members to get their first and second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, such as large-scale clinics, primary care-led clinics, mobile pop-up clinics and local pharmacies. Vaccines can be accessed both on a walk-in basis at many of these locations or by booking an appointment. Information regarding walk-in options, booking an appointment and frequently asked questions are available at hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.
Upcoming mobile pop-up vaccine clinics
Individuals 12 years of age and older who are eligible to receive a first dose or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can walk-in into the following mobile pop-up clinics.
Clinic details
How to access
Dundas Community Centre
29 Market St. S., Dundas
July 23 to 25 & August 5, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 pm to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Saltfleet Community Centre
605 Hwy 8, Stoney Creek
July 23 to 25 & August 3, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 pm to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Ancaster Rotary Centre
385 Jerseyville Rd. W., Ancaster
July 23 to 25 & August 4, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Viscount Elementary School
1525 Lucerne Ave., Hamilton
July 24 & 25, 2021
9 am to 6:30 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Outdoor clinic, dress for the weather.
Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre
876 Cannon St. E., Hamilton
July 26 to August 8, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre
192 Wentworth Street North, Hamilton
July 26 to August 8, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Bayfront Park
200 Harbour Front Drive, Hamilton
July 30 & 31, 2021
10 am to 6 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Outdoor clinic, dress for the weather.
Harry Howell Twin-Pad Arena
27 Hwy 5 West, Flamborough
August 6, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Glanbrook Arena
4300 Binbrook Rd., Binbrook
August 7 & 8, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 pm to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Sackville Hill Seniors Recreation Centre
780 Upper Wentworth St, Hamilton
August 7 & 8, 2021
10 am to 12 pm & 1 to 3 pm
- First and second doses can be accessed via walk-in.
- Pre-booked second doses will be honoured.
Public Health Services recommends that everyone who is eligible for a vaccination receive the first vaccine that is available to them. We need to work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community, to reserve healthcare and hospital capacity and to protect vulnerable populations.
QUOTE
“No young person ever wants to hear the words ‘back-to-school’ in July. That’s different this year, as a safer return to school can be helped by community members ages 12 and over rolling up their sleeves and getting a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and then getting fully vaccinated at least 28 days later. There are clinics offering walk-ins for first and second doses across Hamilton, so to protect the ones you love, and get back to what you love—get your COVID-19 vaccine today.”
Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health
QUICK FACTS
- The Pfizer vaccine is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized by Health Canada for individuals ages 12 to 17.
- On June 26, 2021, Hamilton youth ages 12 to 17 became eligible for an accelerated second dose at a 28-day interval.
- Vaccine administration rates may differ based on local context. All vaccination planning is based on and contingent on available COVID-19 vaccine supply.
- Information regarding walk-in options, booking an appointment and frequently asked questions are available at hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.
- It is vital that members of the public, even those who have been vaccinated, ensure that public health measures still be practiced until it is safe and said to be safe by the health professionals in all levels of government.