Vaccine update: Moderate priority healcare workers now eligible, 50-plus spots will fill up fast

OTTAWA – The Province of Ontario has expanded pre-registration for the COVID-19 vaccine  to include non-frontline moderate priority health care workers, such as those working remotely or those not requiring personal protective equipment at work.

Pre-registration remains open for highest priority, very-high priority and high-priority health care workers and eligible faith leaders.

“Non-frontline health care workers can visit Ottawa Public Health (OPH) to book their appointments,” city staff released in a statement today (April 9). “To help protect those in our community who are most at risk, we ask health care workers who are able to work remotely to consider waiting until they are eligible based on age, postal code or other factors, so that those in the most impacted communities in Ottawa can be vaccinated sooner. Those who must work on-site or whose role is to provide critical COVID-19 health care are encouraged to pre-register.”

Vaccination appointments for those 50 and up at community clinics will fill up quickly.

“This morning, the Province of Ontario announced the extension of vaccine appointments at community clinics to residents aged 50 and older (born in 1971 or earlier) who live in certain ‘hot spots’,” staff said. “These provincially defined ‘hot spots’ include postal codes starting with K1T, K1V and K2V.”

There is not enough vaccine supply to allow everyone aged 50 and older who live in these high-priority neighbourhoods to book an appointment in the provincial booking system today. As such, appointments at community vaccination clinics are expected temporarily to book up quickly following the system’s launch for appointments up until April 30. 

“As the city receives more vaccines from the province and the provincial booking system is updated, more appointments will become available after April 30,” staff said. “Information will be shared when bookings are re-opened through  City of Ottawa’s COVID-19 Vaccine e-subscription, the city and OPH’s social media channels, and through local news sources.”

While the areas that have been identified by the Province of Ontario incorporate some of high-priority neighbourhoods previously identified by OPH, Ottawa’s medical officer of health has the authority to further focus on neighbourhoods, based on local considerations. Therefore, the city will continue to focus its future pop-up clinics on the high priority neighbourhoods previously identified.

“The city is planning mobile and pop-up clinics for residents and essential workers in these neighbourhoods, as well as adult home health care recipients,” staff said. “More information on these will be available soon.”

Accommodations will be made for residents who need help with accessibility and all clinic locations are accessible. 

“Para Transpo users can book a ride to the clinic through the COVID-19 Vaccination Trip Reservation line at 613-842-3600,” staff said. “If Para Transpo 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. If you do not have online access, please contact 211.”

“Residents of all ages who are not yet eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to follow announcements on the City of Ottawa and OPH websites and social media channels, and from 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 2.

Visit ottawa.ca or OttawaPublicHealth.ca for more information on Ottawa’s vaccination distribution plan.