COVID-19 vaccinations now available for 80 and older

OTTAWA – Beginning today (March 15), all Ottawa residents age 80 and above can begin booking appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

There are two options for booking, depending on where you live, so please consider the options carefully to determine which one is right for you.

“All Ottawa residents 80 and older (born in 1941 or earlier) regardless of where they live in the city can book an appointment through the Province of Ontario’s online booking system,” city staff released in a statement. “This includes adults 90 and older who do not yet have an appointment booked.”

Visit Ottawapublichealth.ca to access the provincial booking system or call the information line at 1-888-999-6488 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week.  Only book or call if you are eligible.

The closest clinic to West Carleton residents will be held at the Eva James Memorial Community Centre at 65 Stonehaven Dr. in Kanata which opens on March 23.

Accommodations will be made for residents who need help with accessibility and all clinic locations are accessible. If you are a Para Transpo user, you can book your ride to the clinic through the COVID-19 Vaccination Trip Reservation line at 613-842-3600. If a transportation option is not available to you, you can request a ride to and from the clinic through Ottawa Community Transportation after you have booked your appointment.

Appointments will be available at four community vaccination clinics:

• Nepean Sportsplex (open)
• Ruddy Family YMCA-YWCA (opens Wednesday, March 17)
• Eva James Memorial Community Centre (opens Tuesday, March 23)
• City Hall (opens Tuesday, March 23)

“To enable physical distancing and to reduce the number of people in the clinic, please arrive for your vaccine no more than 10 minutes before your appointment time,” staff said. “Walk-ins will not be accepted, so please book your appointment in advance.”

If you are 80 and older (born in 1941 or earlier) or an adult recipient of chronic home care, and you live in the following communities, you can call 613-691-5505 to book an appointment at a pop-up clinic location close to your neighbourhood.  For a list of clinic locations see Ottawa’s vaccine distribution.

• Britannia Village
• Carleton Heights – Rideauview
• Carlington
• Sandy Hill  
• Whitehaven – Queensway Terrace North

Other groups were made eligible in previous weeks and remain eligible today. Please visit Ottawapublichealth.ca/COVID19vaccine to see if you belong to one of those groups or use Ottawa Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Screening Tool to check your eligibility.

Service providers can take your call between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“We know that there is a high demand for these vaccines, so we expect very high call volume for these bookings,” staff said. “When calling into the booking line, callers will be put into a queue where there is the potential for long wait times. You may also select an option for a call back.”

Please visit Ottawa Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Screening Tool. If you are unable to book an appointment when your eligibility is first announced, you can still receive the vaccine at a later date.  

The following people need to consult their healthcare provider to discuss vaccination risks and benefits before their appointment and will be required to verbally attest that they have done so:   

• Pregnant individuals

Those receiving stem cell therapy, CAR-T therapy, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and other targeted agents

It is also recommended you do not receive another vaccine in the 14 days prior to the COVID-19 vaccine.

“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,” staff said. “They can also sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination update e-subscription for regular news on the vaccine roll-out.”

Please refer to Ontario’s vaccine distribution plan for details on other priority groups within Phase 1 of the plan. The provincial government will make vaccines available to additional groups in Phase 2 between April and July, including individuals with health conditions and people between the ages of 60 and 79. Vaccinations are expected to start for the oldest age group and decrease in five-year increments as vaccine supplies are available.
Visit ottawa.ca or OttawaPublicHealth.ca  for more information on Ottawa’s vaccination distribution plan.