Hamilton healthcare partners scaling up local COVID-19 vaccine capacity to respond to anticipated Omicron surge

HAMILTON, ON – With rising case numbers and the increasing presence of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant in Ontario, Hamilton healthcare partners are undertaking a whole of community approach to scale up local capacity to administer more first, second, third and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. While medical and public health experts await data on the severity of the Omicron variant of concern, there is scientific evidence a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will boost waning immunity following a second dose and provide an important layer of protection against breakthrough infections brought on by this variant.

 The expansion of eligibility for a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to those 18 years of age and older starting December 20, if at least three months (84 days) have passed since their last dose, means there are 320,000 community members to vaccinate in Hamilton. Hamilton healthcare partners are exploring all options to expand capacity to earlier levels seen in the spring and summer of 2021, however this is a challenging undertaking with limited health care human resources across the local healthcare system. As a result, vaccinating community members is going to take a longer period to complete.

 The scale-up of Hamilton’s Vaccine Program will see capacity increase to up to 8,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day, if the required health care human resources can be secured. This compares to the 2,500 doses administered on average per day last week, and over 4,700 doses administered in Hamilton yesterday.

The urgent increase to local COVID-19 vaccine capacity in Hamilton is being supported in these ways

• Opening a temporary COVID-19 vaccine clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton West 5th Campus on Friday, December 17 with capacity anticipated to be over 4,000 doses the five days the clinic is in operation;
• Expanding capacity at existing Hamilton Public Health Services’ vaccine clinics at the Centre on Barton and the Mountain Vaccine Clinic at CF Lime Ridge Mall, Hamilton Health Sciences West End Clinic - Healthcare Worker Vaccine Clinic and primary care-led Winterberry Family Medicine;
• Maintaining capacity of the primary care-led vaccine clinic at David Braley Health Sciences Centre (DBHSC), Hamilton Public Health Services’ mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics, and homebound vaccinations being completed by Hamilton Paramedic Service;
• Continuing to partner with community organizations, such as Refuge and DAHC, to offer COVID-19 clinics to racialized and Indigenous individuals, and the Shelter Health Network to offer COVID-19 vaccines to shelter populations and Residential Care Facilities;
• Encouraging community members to tap into the capacity of local pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccines, and upcoming Provincial GO-VAXX bus mobile holiday stops. Over the last several days, local pharmacies have administered 2,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day;
• The City of Hamilton will temporarily and urgently redeploy approximately 100 city employees to assist with the operations of vaccine clinics.

Hamilton healthcare partners will continue to focus on administering first and second doses to all eligible individuals ages 5+ as well as third and booster doses of vaccine to those most at risk including those 50 years of age and older, immunosuppressed, and/or in congregate settings.

Hamilton Public Health Services appreciates some newly eligible community members, those aged 50+, continue to be eager to book third dose appointments. As experienced with expanded eligibility to large populations in the past and what will be experienced again with the expansion to 18+ on Monday, December 20, there is a significant demand and large volume of individuals booking a limited number of appointments. The issues of demand will only be exacerbated with the influx of demand and the shortage of health care human resources to vaccinate community members. While Hamilton Public Health Services appreciates the frustration this may cause, we ask that community members remain patient and be assured there will be increased capacity and availability of appointments, that new appointments are added daily, and community members should continue to check back for appointments. Additionally residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies who are offering third doses.

Booking a vaccination appointment

Children ages five to 11 years of age and individuals who are eligible for third or booster doses are required to book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination. Learn about available locations, hours of operation and how to book at www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine. Additionally, residents are also encouraged to check with local pharmacies who are offering third doses.

The online vaccine booking system, accessed by visiting www.hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine can accept bookings for eligible residents with an Ontario health card (green photo health card OR red and white) and an email address or cell phone number. Individuals without an Ontario health card, or without an email address or cell phone number can call the Public Health Services COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 905-974-9848, option 7. Translation services are available by phone.

“Hamilton and all of Ontario face an anticipated surge of Omicron cases in the coming days and weeks. In response to this urgent situation, City staff and healthcare practitioners from across our community are stepping up to get more COVID-19 doses in arms, however vaccinating 320,000 community members is going to be an uphill battle based on strained heath care human resources. As we continue to scale up, we ask community members for patience during this time of significant demand for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses.” - Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health

Quick facts

• To date, Hamilton healthcare partners have administered 939,960 doses of COVID-19 vaccine – with 83.4 per cent of eligible Hamiltonians receiving a vaccine to date and 78.7 per cent fully vaccinated. Over 55,000 third and booster doses have been administered locally as of end of day, December 15, 2021.
• Hamilton Public Health Services remains committed to the Last Mile Strategy with the priority being administering both first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and ensuring neighbourhoods with lower coverage rates have access to information tailored to their needs and vaccine that is accessible at convenient locations and times.
• It is vital that members of the public, even those who have been vaccinated, ensure that well-established public health measures still be practiced until it is safe and said to be safe by the health professionals in all levels of government.  

Additional resources

• www.hamilton.ca/COVIDvaccines
• www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus
• https://kidshealthfirst.ca/
• Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 905-974-9848, option 7 or [email protected]
• Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Hotline: 905-974-9848 or [email protected]