Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout to expand this week to 18+ in ‘hot spots,’ and 50+

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Published May 3, 2021 at 8:02 am

Hamilton’s vaccination roll out expands Monday (May 3) to include people who are 18 years of age and older in the city’s ‘hot spot’ postal codes.

On Sunday, the province announced that priority for vaccines could expand to include 18 + in 114 ‘hot spots’ in Ontario thanks to a promised shipment of two million Pfizer doses this week to Canada.

In Hamilton, the ‘hot spot’ postal codes are L9C, L8W, L8L, L8N, L9K.

“In order to vaccinate those in our community who live in neighbourhoods that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, effective Monday, May 3, 2021, those individuals who are ages 18+ and live in “hot spot” communities in Hamilton as identified by the Provincial Government and Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS), are eligible to book an appointment for vaccination,” a PHS press release said.

“This eligible population can receive a vaccine at any of the city’s large-scale or mobile pop-up vaccination clinics on a by-appointment-only basis, walk-ins are not permitted. Proof of address must be shown when arriving for an appointment.”

How to book

Those who are ages 18+ and live in the eligible postal codes L9C and L8W can book an appointment online using the Provincial booking portal found on the City’s website for a large-scale clinic.

Individuals who are ages 18+ and live in the eligible postal codes L9C, L8W, L8L, L8N and L9K can call the Public Health Services COVID-19 Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 for a vaccination appointment at a large-scale or mobile pop-up clinic.

“Due to potential call volumes expected at the call centre, the City of Hamilton encourages everyone to self-register online if able to do so, it’s the quickest process to get an appointment,” the press release said.

“The hotline is trying to focus on those without health cards and those without computer access.”

Later this week…

Later this week, the city’s vaccine rollout will continue to expand to individuals who are turning 50 in 2021 across all neighbourhoods in the city, as well as people with high-risk health conditions and people who cannot work from home who fall under Group One (including remaining elementary and secondary school workers).

Starting Thursday (May 8) appointments for these priority populations can be booked through the provincial online booking system that can be found at www.hamilton.ca/VaccineBooking, by calling the Provincial call centre at 1-888,999-6488 or by calling the Public Health Services COVID-19 Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 for members of the public without health cards, those without computer access or for those who would like an appointment at a mobile pop-up clinic.

PHS said that additionally, priority populations who have been only able to book via the provincial call centre “will now also be able to book online, including individuals with the highest risk health conditions, child care workers in licenced child care settings and education workers who provide direct support to students with special education needs.”

To date, approximately 189,044 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Hamiton, accounting for approximately 34.1 per cent of eligible residents.

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