The latest: Here’s how you can get your COVID-19 vaccine in Hamilton

by
Maria Iqbal - Spectator Reporter
from on (#5HWHD)
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Anyone 40-plus can book their COVID-19 vaccine through Ontario's portal regardless of postal code.

That means those born in 1981 or earlier can now get a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine after the province paused AstraZeneca shots.

To book:

  • Call the province at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007), available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with help in 300 languages;

  • If you need help or have an older health card (red and white), call Ontario's vaccine information line at 1-888-999-6488, available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with help in 300 languages;

  • Those without a green health card or internet can call the city at 905-974-9848, option 7. This number is also for appointments at pop-up clinics.

The city says appointments are extremely limited," but expects to add more shortly" as vaccine supply becomes available. For details, visit hamilton.ca/VaccineBooking.

Public health adds the city hotline is experiencing a high volume of calls," so those who can book online are encouraged to do so. They also ask callers to be patient and call again if the line is busy.

Here's the latest on getting your vaccine:

I am turning at least 18 in 2021 (born in 2003 or earlier) and live in the L8W, L9C, L8N, L8L, or L9K postal codes

If you live in L9C and L8W, you can book an appointment using the Ontario portal or by calling the province's vaccine lines, or the city hotline. See above.

Those living in any of the five L9C, L8W, L8L, L8N and L9K postal codes can also book the following ways:

  • For an appointment at FirstOntario Centre, 101 York Blvd., call 905-974-9848, option 7;

For the following clinics, send your name and phone number to vaccines@seedsofleadership.ca or vaccines@hamiltonmosque.com:

  • Hamilton Mountain Mosque at 1545 Stone Church Rd. E., May 10 to May 16 from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.;

  • Hamilton Downtown Mosque at 221 York Blvd., May 17 to 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Some pharmacies are also offering the Moderna vaccine to all adults. While these doses are intended for residents of hot spots, proof of residence is not required:

To book an appointment or see if walk-ins are available, visit the individual pharmacy websites.

I am at least 18 years old (born in 2003 or earlier) and a chronic home-care recipient

You can register at hamilton.ca/VaccineRegistration. You will then receive an email from the province to complete your booking.

I am Indigenous and 18 or older and live in Hamilton

You can book your first dose by calling the city hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7. Indigenous residents in Hamilton will receive second doses 21 to 28 days after the first.

I am at least 18 years old, belong to a Black or racialized community and live in Hamilton

Individuals in this group can book appointments regardless of postal code, but the following pop-up clinics are specifically for Black and other racialized adults living in the L9C, L8W, L8L, L8N and L9K postal codes:

  • FirstOntario Centre, 101 York Blvd., Hamilton, appointments available at various times.

The city says Black" and racialized" individuals and people of colour" include, but are not limited to the following populations: Black, Latin American, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian and multiracial.

For an appointment, call the city at 905-974-9848, option 7.

The mobile clinic will leave the sites after the above dates and return for second doses. Residents should bring proof of address to the appointment.

Individuals who are not in the above postal codes can preregister for an appointment by emailing vaccine@hcci.ca or completing this Google Form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2WFoXaoTgI-XZlCPJDRHklpMViYJLk8XAOju4E-OcGHeI1w/viewform.

Public health also says individuals in this group can call 905-974-9848, option 7 for an appointment at other clinics depending on vaccine supply.

For more information, contact the following organizations:

  • Centre de Sante Communautaire at 905-528-0163 or cschn.ca/;

  • Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre at 905-522-3233 or hucchc.com/;

  • Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion at 905-297-4694 or info@hcci.ca;

  • Disability Justice Network of Ontario at 905-297-4694 ext. 201 or info@djno.ca.

I am at least 18 and have an at-risk" medical condition

Adults (born in 2003 and earlier) with the below conditions can book through the province or city - see above. The province's online booking tool is the preferred method.

  • Immune deficiencies and auto-immune disorders;

  • Stroke and cerebrovascular disease;

  • Dementia;

  • Diabetes;

  • Liver disease;

  • Any type of cancer;

  • Respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy;

  • Spleen problems, such as asplenia;

  • Heart disease;

  • Hypertension with end organ damage;

  • Diagnosed mental disorder;

  • Substance use disorders;

  • Sickle cell disease;

  • Thalassemia;

  • Immunocompromising health conditions;

  • Other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community.

The province says health-care practitioners will use their best medical judgment" to inoculate patients with health conditions not listed, such as rare diseases, that may put them at the same or higher risk than the ones listed.

I am at least 18 and have a high-risk" medical condition, or care for someone who does

Adults (born in 2003 and earlier) with the below conditions can book through the province or city - see above. The province's online booking tool is the preferred method.

  • Obesity (BMI over 40);

  • Other treatments causing immunosuppression (e.g. chemotherapy, immunity-weakening medications);

  • Intellectual or developmental disabilities (e.g. Down syndrome);

  • One essential caregiver for those with the above conditions who need regular and sustained" help with personal care or daily living.

I am at least 18 years old and have a highest-risk" medical condition, or care for someone who does

Adults (born in 2003 and earlier) with the below conditions can book through the province or city - see above. The province's online booking tool is the preferred method.

  • had an organ transplant at any time in the past;

  • had a stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) at any time in the past;

  • have a neurological disease that makes it difficult to breathe (for example: motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis);

  • were diagnosed with cancer that affects your blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes (a haematological malignancy) within the last year;

  • have severe kidney disease (eGFR under 30);

  • are an essential caregiver for someone with any of these conditions;

  • are pregnant.

I am 40 years or older (born in 1981 or earlier) and live anywhere in Hamilton

You can no longer get the AstraZeneca vaccine. Appointments at Hamilton's pop-up clinic at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre on 100 Main St. W. are cancelled.

Instead, anyone in this age group (regardless of postal code) can book their vaccine at ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by phoning the province at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007).

I am eligible for a vaccine but I am homebound and can't go to a clinic

Over the April 10 to 11 weekend, paramedics began delivering vaccines to eligible residents who are homebound. Eligible residents are identified and registered by home-care and primary-care providers. Hamilton Paramedic Service books the appointments.

I can't work from home

The following groups can book through the province or city - see above. The province's online booking tool is the preferred method.

  • Essential and critical retail workers (e.g. grocery, food bank, pharmacy, ServiceOntario, ServiceCanada, Passport Canada, wholesalers and general goods, restaurant, LCBO workers);

  • Workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID-19 response, construction (including infrastructure) and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at heightened risk for COVID-19 outbreaks and spread;

  • Social workers and social-services staff who provide in-person client services (e.g. youth justice workers, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program case workers);

  • Courts and justice system workers (including probation and parole workers);

  • Transportation, warehousing and distribution workers (e.g. public transit workers, truck drivers supporting essential services, marine and rail cargo and maintenance, highway maintenance);

  • Electricity (including system operations, generation, transmission, distribution and storage workers);

  • Communications infrastructure workers (including cellular, satellite, land line, internet, public safety radio);

  • Water and wastewater management workers;

  • Financial services workers such as bank branch staff;

  • Veterinarians and their teams;

  • Waste management workers;

  • Oil and petroleum workers (including petroleum refineries, crude oil and petroleum storage, transmission and distribution, retail sale of fuel);

  • Natural gas and propane gas workers (including compression, storage, transmission and distribution);

  • Mine workers (including those needed to ensure the continued operation of active mines);

  • Uranium processing workers (those working in the refining and conversion of uranium and fabrication of fuel for nuclear power plants);

The first group" of workers became eligible before:

  • Remaining elementary and secondary school workers (e.g. educators, custodial, school bus drivers, administrative staff);

  • Workers responding to critical events (e.g. police, fire, special constables, Children's Aid Society workers, emergency management, critical infrastructure restoration workers);

  • Enforcement, inspection and compliance roles (e.g. bylaw enforcement, building inspectors, food inspectors, animal welfare inspectors, border inspection officers, labour inspectors, WSIB field workers);

  • Remaining workers in licensed child-care settings (e.g. all licensees, employees and students on educational placements who interact directly with children in licensed child-care centres and in authorized recreation and skill-building programs, licensed home child-care and in-home service providers, employees of home child-care agencies);

  • Foster care agenda workers (including customary care providers);

  • Food manufacturing and distribution workers;

  • Agriculture and farm workers;

  • Funeral, crematorium and cemetery workers.

Child-care workers in licensed facilities and special education workers can also book online.

I am a health-care worker

You can book through the province or city - see above. The province's online booking tool is the preferred method.

I am an essential caregiver

You can book through the province or city - see above. The province's online booking tool is the preferred method.

I am a faith leader

All faith-based leaders who live or work in the city can register for a vaccine if they're in close contact with people, in the following contexts:

  • End-of-life care;

  • Care of the deceased, funerals, bathing, or other ceremony with direct contact with deceased persons;

  • Home visits to unwell persons;

  • Pastoral care in hospitals, long-term-care homes, retirement homes, or other vulnerable settings.

Eligible individuals can register at hamilton.ca/VaccineRegistration. Once registered, residents will receive an email from the province with a link to book an appointment for a vaccine.

Where are the vaccine clinics?

Hamilton has three fixed-site clinics:

  • St. Joe's West 5th clinic at 100 West 5th St. The main entrance is off Fennell Avenue West;

  • HHS clinic at 293 Wellington St. N.;

  • FirstOntario Centre clinic at 101 York Blvd. The entrance is through the doors off Bay Street.

Starting May 17, vaccines will be offered through a primary care clinic:

  • David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main St. W., Hamilton, L8P 1H6 (Appointments are available through Ontario's portal) The entrance is through the doors off Bay Street.

Individuals will receive a free parking voucher will be provided during the appointment, either for the David Braley Health Sciences Centre's underground parking lot or for the Bay Street parking lot owned by McMaster University behind the centre.

There are more than 50 local pharmacies where residents 40 years and older can book the AstraZeneca vaccine, though not all the pharmacies will begin offering shots right away. A list of the locations can be found at covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.

A rolling list of pop-up clinics is available at hamilton.ca/VaccineBooking.

You can also book appointments in other public health units, including Niagara, where spots are available online.

I got my first dose. When can I expect my second?

Most people will receive a second dose 16 weeks after the first.

The move follows a recommendation from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to vaccinate more people by delaying second doses up to four months while waiting for more vaccine supply.

Those at higher risk will also receive second doses according to the original 21- to 28-day schedule. That includes Indigenous adults and residents of long-term-care and retirement homes, elder care lodges, assisted-living facilities and remote and isolated First Nation communities.

Which vaccines are approved?

Health Canada has approved four vaccines. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) has one dose, while Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca are all two-dose vaccines.

Is the AstraZeneca vaccine safe?

On May 11, Ontario paused giving doses of AstraZeneca due to an increase in cases of rare blood clots - called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) - linked to the shot. Previously, the risk of the condition was estimated at between 0.9 per 100,000 to one per 100,000. The latest stats put the rate closer 1.7 per 100,000.

In the meantime, COVID-19 cases are decreasing and the province is receiving more Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which also factored into the decision. Ontario is waiting for further guidance from Health Canada and NACI before deciding how to proceed with the vaccine. It is also considering which vaccine to offer those who already received one dose of AstraZeneca.

Once I get my vaccine, can I meet others without social distancing?

No. Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health has said Ontario does not yet have enough people vaccinated to allow people to gather without precautions. That means you should continue to wear a mask, only gather with your immediate household, stay home if you're feeling sick and keep a two-metre distance from those outside your household, among other precautions.

Maria Iqbal's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report on stories focused on aging issues. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com.

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