Vaccination pre-registration begins for pregnant individuals

OTTAWA – Beginning Monday, April 26 at 2 p.m., pregnant individuals will be able to pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

“These individuals, as well as others previously identified as people with the highest risk health conditions, and one of their caregivers, can visit Ottawa Public Health to pre-register,” city staff released in a statement Friday (April 23). “The Province of Ontario now lists pregnant individuals as part of the highest risk health priority group. Individuals who are pregnant are advised to have a discussion with their health care provider prior to getting vaccinated.”

A letter from a physician is not required for vaccination. The second dose interval for this group will remain at 16 weeks.

“A pregnant individual may have someone who supports them be vaccinated,” staff said. “This would apply when the pregnant individual needs regular and sustained help with personal care or to help them with their normal daily activities.”

Pre-registration is still open to individuals with highest risk health conditions and their caregivers, including:

• 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
• People with kidney disease eGFR< 30

Community and pop-up clinic appointments are temporarily fully booked

“There is currently a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines available,” staff said. “In the coming days, as the city receives more vaccines from the province more appointments will become available. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days.”

Residents of all ages who are not yet eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to follow announcements on the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health websites and social media channels, and from your local news media to learn when they can receive their vaccine. They can also sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination update e-subscription for regular news on the vaccine roll-out.  

Visit ottawa.ca or OttawaPublicHealth.ca for more information on Ottawa’s vaccination distribution plan.  For more information on city programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 311 (TTY: 613-580-2401).