Hamilton Health Partners plan COVID-19 vaccination program transition - Get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible

HAMILTON, ON – Hamilton healthcare partners continue to make progress in vaccinating eligible members of the Community against COVID-19. Over 75.3 per cent community members ages 12 and over have received at least one dose, with nearly 60 (59.8) per cent fully vaccinated. While this is good news, this also means there are still many community members who have yet to receive their first dose, and that protection isn’t equally distributed across the community.

As the number of people remaining to be vaccinated becomes smaller, and how they would like to be vaccinated changes, Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccine program will begin a careful and measured winding-down of large-scale mass vaccination clinics through to the end of August. Through the summer, the next phase of Hamilton’s vaccine program will see access to a COVID-19 vaccine continue to transition to smaller clinics across the community such as at 100+ pharmacies, targeted mobile pop-up clinics, and two primary care led clinics at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre and Winterberry Family Medicine.

The planned closure of large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinics is as follows:

• Hamilton Health Sciences COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic (293 Wellington St. N) will close as of August 3, 2021.
• St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton West 5th COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic (100 West 5th St.) will close as of August 17.
• FirstOntario Centre COVID-19 Vaccine clinic (101 York Blvd.) will close as of August 29, 2021.

Hamilton Public Health Services will notify all individuals who have their second dose vaccine appointments scheduled after a clinic closure via text and email with links and information on how to access an accelerated second dose. COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline Staff will also reach out by telephone to assist in these efforts. Individuals who have appointments booked after a clinic closure date are being asked to reschedule their appointment or walk-in into a local clinic offering walk-ins 28 days after their first dose to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.

Protect who you love and get back to what you love. Get fully vaccinated sooner

With an abundant supply of vaccines, plenty of space available in clinics, and many convenient options for accessing first and second doses across the city, Hamilton’s whole health care system is making a big push over the next month to increase vaccine rates across all areas of the city to ensure Hamilton can have the highest level of protection against COVID-19 heading into the school year. Outreach from primary care providers to their patients who are not yet vaccinated will also ramp up ensuring that an individual’s decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine is based on trust and informed personal choice.

Residents 12 years of age and older are encouraged to get their first dose and to move up their second dose, at least 28 days after their first dose, to get fully vaccinated sooner. During this transition all of Hamilton’s large-scale vaccine clinics at Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton West 5th and FirstOntario Centre, in addition to the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vaccine Clinic at the Centre on Barton, and the David Braley Health Sciences Centre Vaccine Clinic have moved to a walk-in or booked appointment model.

Walk-in or book an appointment at many locations across the city. Find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you: hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine.

“As our vaccine program moves into a new phase our job is far from over. With only six weeks to go until September and back to school, our vaccination efforts remain as crucial as ever. Alongside our partners from across the health care system and local community organizations, we remain committed to increasing vaccine coverage in our community using new channels of outreach and vaccine sites to connect with people who have yet to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and the strong protection it offers to themselves and their loved ones.”

- Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health

Quick Facts

• Almost 700,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Hamilton.
• Hamilton’s large-scale clinics have been essential in administering significant volumes of vaccine to community members - approximately two thirds of the doses administered in Hamilton.
• Increasing the coverage rates of those partly and fully vaccinated will help to make sure Hamilton can move forward through Step Three of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen.
• Hamilton’s COVID-19 Vaccination goal is to reach 80 per cent coverage, with at minimum 75 per cent coverage in any area of the City.
• The Pfizer vaccine is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized by Health Canada for individuals ages 12 to 17.
• All vaccination planning is based on and contingent on available COVID-19 vaccine supply. Vaccine administration rates may differ based on local context.

Additional Resources

• Read more about Ontario’s COVID vaccination program.
• hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine
• www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-distribution
• www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus
• Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Hotline: 905-974-9848 or [email protected]