COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy targets High-Risk Neighbourhoods
COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted certain neighbourhoods and communities across the province.
As Ontario receives more vaccines from the federal government, it is vital that we continue to target our vaccination efforts on those most at-risk by partnering with communities to deliver the vaccines as quickly as possible. That’s why we are working with our valued community partners and local public health units to mobilize every available channel.
Through this initiative, 114 highly impacted neighbourhoods, as identified by postal code, will be reached through mass immunization clinics, mobile teams and pop-up clinics. Specific “hot spot” postal codes have been identified in the following public health regions: Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Ottawa, Peel, Simcoe-Muskoka, Southwestern, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, Windsor-Essex, and York Region.
Individuals aged 18 or older who live in designated hot spots are eligible for vaccination through mobile teams and pop-up clinics in in high-risk congregate settings, residential buildings, and faith-based locations. Mobile and pop-up clinics will be promoted locally within their target communities, including by the local public health unit, and will not use the provincial booking system.
In addition, to further support hot spot communities, as of Friday, April 9, 2021, the Ontario government expanded the provincial booking system to provide appointments to individuals aged 50 and over in hot spot communities at mass vaccination sites. Eligible populations, as identified by postal code, aged 50 and over can schedule an appointment through the provincial booking system, or directly through public health units that use their own booking system.
As of April 12, 2021, special education workers across the province and education workers in Peel and Toronto hot spots will be eligible to register for vaccination by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1‑833‑943‑3900, or directly through those public health units who are using their own system.
By targeting hot spot communities and highly impacted neighbourhoods with mobile teams and pop-up clinics, along with our mass immunization clinics, hospitals and pharmacies, we are making it easier for people in highly-impacted communities to get the vaccine to protect themselves and others from this deadly virus.