TorontoNEED TO KNOW

How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Greater Toronto Area if you qualify

Those aged 18 and up and living in a COVID-19 hot spot now qualify to book a vaccine through the provincial booking system, while the shots also became available to child-care workers this week.

CBC Toronto will be updating this story as the vaccine campaigns open up to more people

CBC News Posted: Mar 05, 2021 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: May 7, 2021

Personal support worker Vilma Abuluyan, 47, gets her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic, run by Humber River Hospital, for staff at Villa Columbo long-term care home, in northeast Toronto, on Apr. 26, 2021. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Those aged 50 and up across Ontarionow qualify to book a vaccine through the provincial booking system, in addition to those with high-risk health conditionsand a number of employees who cannot work from home.

The newly eligible workers include those in the education, child care, and the food and manufacturing sectors.

People aged 18 and up can book vaccine appointments if they live in one of 144 provincially-designated hot-spot postal codes as of this week.

The province says this expansion of eligibility will support the government's strategy of allocating 50 per cent of vaccine doses to hot spots during the weeks of May 3 and May 10.

Ontario is also now on track to administer first doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 65 per cent of adults by the end of the month, provincial health officials said Wednesday.

Ontario records 3,436 new COVID-19 cases, vaccine appointments open to 18+ in hot spots

In parts of the GTAhit hardest by the third wave, anyone 18-plus is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, though accessing it is more complex than simply booking a shot at a mass vaccination site.

So,how do you know if you qualify for a vaccine and how do you go about getting one?

Here are the key factors thatdetermine your eligibility

How old are you? If you're 50 and over living anywhere, or 18-plus living in a hot spot,you can get vaccinated at a mass vaccination clinics, hospital clinics, mobile clinics (if they are available in your region) and someprimary care settings (such as your doctor's office).

If you're under 50and not in a hot spot or at high risk of contracting COVID-19 let's say you're in your 20s or30s, healthyandable to work from home you might need to keep waiting.

Are you pregnant? If so, you are considered a top priority for vaccination in Ontario. You can book a shot through the provincialcall centre. If yourlocal health unit is not using the provincial booking system, call the unit directly to set up an appointment.

Where do you live? In some hot-spotareas of the GTAwhere there have been a large number of COVID-19 cases,those aged 18and up are able to get a vaccine. This program is set to expand to more cities in the near future.

A team from Humber River Hospital administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the TARIC Centre, Toronto and Region Islamic Congregation, on Apr. 7, 2021, as part of a community outreach program to get people vaccinated at their place of worship. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

What kind of work do you do? Those who cannot work from home are now eligible to get the shot, including those in education, workers responding to critical events, enforcement, inspection and compliance roles, child care and the food and manufacturing sectors. The list is set to expand in the week of May 10 to include more workers.

The province also says it is launching mobile vaccination units to help get vaccines to workers at small and medium-sized workplaces who can't work from home in Peel, Toronto and York.

Do you have an underlying health condition? Right now, the province is offering first shots to those with specific conditions. If that's you, you can pre-register for a shot.

Are you Indigenous? All Indigenous adults qualify to get a vaccine.

Remember, you should only be vaccinated in the city or region you live inthe overarching goal is still to limit the potentialspread of COVID-19, which means staying close to home as much as possible. Experts warn we are in a third wave of the pandemic driven by coronavirus variants that are more transmissible than the original strain of the virus.

One more disclaimer: thefollowing guide isintended for the general public, and doesn't capture those who will be vaccinated by specialized teams for example, mobile teams distributing vaccines in homeless shelters or other congregate settings.

Now that's clear, here's where you should book a vaccination spot if you qualify.

Ontario

Here's the province's centralized COVID-19 booking site. There's also a phone line for those who need it:1-888-999-6488.

If you are calling, make sure you know if you qualify.There hasbeen confusion.

Toronto mass vaccination sites open for 18-plus in hot spots

Toronto is running a number of mass vaccination sites throughout the city. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Torontoniansover the age of 18living in COVID-19 hot-spot neighbourhoods determined based on postal codes can now book a shot at a mass vaccination site ormobile vaccination units.

In the city, those postal codes are:

Residents 50-plus living anywhere in the city can book at a mass-vaccination clinic or some health partner clinics.

Anyone 40-plus accessing the AstraZeneca vaccine anywhere can book at pharmacies, or through select primary care providers andpop-up clinics.

You can find a full list of vaccination sites on the city's website.

Toronto Public Health and its partners are now overseeing more than 310vaccination sites (including mobile operations).

You will still need to make an appointment, walk-ins or stand-by appointments are not available.

Here are theShoppers Drug Mart pharmacies offering 24/7 vaccines in the city:

Scarborough 1235 McCowan Road
Scarborough 2330 Kennedy Road
Scarborough 2901 Sheppard Avenue East
Scarborough 255 Morningside Avenue
Toronto 1500 Woodbine Avenue
Toronto 1500 Avenue Road
Toronto 2345 Yonge Street
Toronto 770 Lawrence Avenue West
Etobicoke 5230 Dundas StreetWest
Etobicoke 123 Rexdale Boulevard
North York 3975 Jane Street

Peelmass vaccination sites open for those 18-plus

Peel Region announcedit will be offering vaccines to all residents aged 18 and older not just those in hot-spot neighbourhoods startingThursday, weeks ahead of the province's schedule.

Adults 18 years or older in all postal codes can also book a vaccine appointment at ahospital-run clinic in Peel.

Those 18-plus living in the following hot spot postal codes can book an appointment through Ontario's online portal:

Those 18-plus living in the following postal codes that are not identified as hot spots can also book through the province's online system:

Peel Public Health is directing residents to vaccination clinics in Brampton and Mississauga.

Here are the pharmacies offering 24/7 vaccines in the region:

Brampton 10661 Chinguacousy, Building C, Fletchers Meadow
Brampton 160 Main Street South
Brampton 49 Mountainash Road
Brampton 34 Avondale Boulevard
Brampton 1 Kennedy Road South
Brampton 25 Great Lakes Drive
Mississauga 2470 Hurontario Street

Yorkmass vaccination sites open for those 50-plus

York Region is offeringvaccine appointmentsto those age 50-plus through the provincial booking system.

In certain hot spots postal codesL0J, L3L, L4H, L4J, L4K, L4L, L6A, L3T, L6B, L6C, L6E, L3S, L4B, L4C, L4E, and L9Nanyone over 18can get their first dose of vaccine.

Those people can search for booking slots every day at 8:30 a.m.Note: You must book online and please only book once.

High priority health-care workers in the region are eligible for a vaccine, as well. You can check here to see if that's you.

The region has also opened a drive-thru mass vaccination site at Canada's Wonderland.

One pharmacy is offering 24/7 vaccines. You can find it inVaughan, at4000 Hwy #7.

Durhammass vaccination sites open for those 50-plus

Durham Region has eight clinicsrunning in Ajax, Bomanville, Cannington, Oshawa, Pickering, Port Perry, Uxbridge and Whitby.

Mass vaccination is available to those 50-plus, as well as residents 18-plus living in the following postal codes:L1S, L1T, L1V, L1X, L1Z.

Bookings open at 8 a.m. daily and the public health unit is urging seniors to not arrive more than 10 minutes before their vaccination slot so they don't have to wait outside.

Haltonmass vaccination sites open for those 30-plus

Like Peel, HaltonRegion is also opening up vaccine eligibility to the younger populationahead of the province's schedule.

Starting May 19,all residents 16-plus will be allowed to book a vaccine appointment.

As of Friday,any30-plus resident who cannot work from home are eligible for a vaccine.

Halton is running six appointment-only vaccination clinics. You can book online here.

The public health unit is also offering free transportation to its clinics, though that travel must be booked 48 hours in advance.

One pharmacy is offering 24/7 vaccines. You can find it inOakville, at2501 Third Line, Building B.

With files from The Canadian Press

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