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

Maria Iqbal - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

from on 2021-03-25 10:00 (#5FSG4)

Starting May 6, more Hamiltonians will be able to book their COVID vaccines.

As of Thursday at 8 a.m., anyone 50 years or older (born in 1971 or earlier), those with high-risk health conditions and some essential workers will be eligible to book through Ontario's portal. Details are below.

The city also announced a new pop-up clinic for Indigenous adults starting May 8. See below for details.

Currently, Hamilton residents 18 and older living in the city's five hot spot postal codes (L9C, L8W, L8L, L8N, L9K) can book an appointment at a city clinic.

Hamilton residents age 40 and older can continue to get their COVID-19 vaccines through a local pharmacy or a pop-up clinic.

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 hotline is experiencing a high volume of calls," so those who can book online are encouraged to do so. They also ask those who call for an appointment 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 at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/.

If you need help or have an older health card (red and white), call Ontario's vaccine information line at 1-888-999-6488 to book.

To change or cancel an appointment, or for missed appointments, call Ontario's vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). The line is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with information in more than 300 languages.

If you'd like an appointment at a pop-up clinic (details below), or don't have a valid health card, call the city hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7.

Those in the L8L, L8N and L9K postal codes can only call the city hotline for an appointment.

Pop-up clinics for 18+ residents in all five hot spots are being held at:

Salvation Army Meadowlands, 187 Stone Church Rd. W., on May 6 to 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; **This clinic is full.**

FirstOntario Centre, 101 York Blvd., May 4 onward at various times.

Residents should bring proof of address to their appointment.

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. A pop-up clinic is available at:

Perkins Centre at 1429 Main St. E., Hamilton, on May 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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:

Restoration House, 54 Vine St., Hamilton, from May 3 to 7 at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.;

FirstOntario Centre, 101 York Blvd., Hamilton, from May 4 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 city expects the slots to fill quickly," and plans to offer more clinics for this group. Public health asks callers to be patient and call again if lines are busy.

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 contact the following organizations for direction:

Compass Community Health at 905-523-6611 ext. 2000 or compassch.org/;

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;

Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health at 905-526-0000 or info@newcomerhealth.ca;

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

Residents can also preregister for an appointment on this Google Form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2WFoXaoTgI-XZlCPJDRHklpMViYJLk8XAOju4E-OcGHeI1w/viewform.

Public health also says individuals in this eligibility group can call the city hotline for an appointment at other clinics depending on vaccine supply.

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

Starting May 6, adults with the following conditions will be eligible:

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.

To book, visit ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call the province at 1-833-943-3900. Those without a computer or green health card can phone the city at 905-974-9848, option 7.

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

Adults 18 years and older (born in 2003 or earlier) with the following health conditions are eligible to book their vaccines:

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.

These individuals can book their first doses through Ontario's online portal at ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by calling Ontario's call centre at 18339433900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). The line is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with information in more than 300 languages.

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

You can book the AstraZeneca vaccine regardless of your postal code. To book, call or visit the website of participating pharmacies. A list of locations is available at covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations. Not all pharmacies will begin offering the vaccine by the same date.

Pharmacies are allowed to take walk-ins. Eligible residents should contact the pharmacies to find out if they're taking walk-ins or appointments only.

Hamilton announced a pop-up clinic for this group from May 6 to 13:

David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main St. W., Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., and the weekend from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

I am 50 or older (born in 1971 or earlier) and live in Hamilton

Starting May 6, you can book an appointment online or by phone regardless of your postal code.

If you have a green health card, you can book at ontario.ca/bookvaccine.

If you need help or have a red and white health card, call Ontario's vaccine information line at 1-888-999-6488. This line is also for questions about the province's vaccination plan.

If you want an appointment at a pop-up clinic, or don't have a valid health card, call the city hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7.

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

As of May 6, the individuals in the first group" of eligible workers can book vaccines through Ontario's portal:

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.

Previously eligible workers - including child-care workers in licensed facilities and special education workers - will also be able to book online from May 6.

To book, visit ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call the province at 1-833-943-3900. Those without a green health card or internet can call the city at 905-974-9848, option 7.

I am a health-care worker

If you're on the list of workers at Hamilton.ca/VaccineRegistration, you can follow the link to register for a vaccine. You will then receive a call for an appointment once you become eligible, which public health says could take weeks or months. Workers are prioritized for appointments based on provincial guidelines.

I am an essential caregiver

If you've been designated an essential caregiver for a long-term-care or retirement home resident, you can register at Hamilton.ca/VaccineRegistration through the same portal as health-care workers. Include the name and phone number of the seniors' home in the supervisor" category. Once you get an appointment, bring a letter from the seniors' home confirming your essential caregiver status.

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 and some pop-up 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.

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?

Since April 20, Ontarians 40 years and older have been eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine. This followed Health Canada's approval of the shot for anyone 18 years and older on April 14.

While Health Canada found the very rare" blood clots may be" linked to the vaccine, the department maintains the potential risk is very rare, and the benefits of the vaccine in protecting against COVID-19 outweigh its potential risks."

In the very rare event that someone experiences unusual blood clots with low platelets, there are treatments available," said the department.

Meanwhile, a Canadian panel of experts updated its recommendation for the AstraZeneca vaccine on April 23. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) says the shot can be given to individuals 30 years and older if the person doesn't want to wait for another vaccine and the benefits of getting the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risk.

Ontario's age remains capped at 40 for the shot.

For further questions about which vaccine is best for you, consult your health-care provider.

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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