The COVID-19 vaccine is here, Hamilton. Here’s what you need to know to roll up your sleeve
The City of Hamilton has opened up COVID-19 vaccinations for residents over the age of 85 and community health-care workers.
That includes dentists, midwives, palliative care doctors, and supervised consumption site workers. The city's shelters also began to receive vaccines over the weekend.
Here's what you need to know to get your shot.
How do I register?
Public health said Hamilton residents 85 years or older this calendar year who received care at a local hospital or hospital clinic in the past six months were set to be contacted for a vaccination appointment starting on Feb. 26.
Those who don't fall into that category are asked to call Hamilton public health's COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 905-974-9848 and then select option 7 to register for a vaccine.
Eligible health-care workers can register at Hamilton.ca/VaccineRegistration.
What information do I need?
Public health said it will not ask for a resident's health card, social insurance, credit card number or any form of payment when booking an appointment - vaccines are free.
For eligible health-care workers, the city requires a regulatory body registration number or the name of the organization you work for, a supervisor's name and contact information to register.
Where are the clinics?
Hamilton Health Sciences resumed administering first doses of the vaccine to health-care workers on Friday after a month-long shut down due to shortages in supply.
Hamilton seniors age 85 and older will begin receiving vaccines starting on Monday at the clinic opening at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's West 5th campus.
From March 3, the city will be hosting pop-up mobile clinics at several locations across the city. The sites of those clinics are: Saltfleet Community Centre in Winona, the Municipal Service Centre in Binbrook, the Rotary Club of Ancaster A.M., Dundas Lions Memorial Community Centre, and Harry Howell Arena in Waterdown.
Additional clinics set to be held in neighbourhoods that have been impacted the most by COVID-19 will be announced in the coming days.
All clinics are by appointment only.
When can I get vaccinated?
Next on the city's list will be seniors ages 80 to 84 years old. They're set to be able to receive vaccines in the coming weeks."
The province had previously announced that Ontarians 75 years and older can begin to book vaccine appointments starting April 15. Next in line would be seniors 70 and up as of May 1, and those 65 and older on June 1.
Residents 60 and older should be able to book their shots beginning in July, depending on supply.
How many need to be vaccinated?
The province estimates 75 per cent of Hamilton adults will volunteer for a total of 375,951, requiring 751,902 doses.
Who has been vaccinated so far?
Hamilton has administered 33,851 doses as of Feb. 25, but it's not known how many people this represents as many are second doses.
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com