Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccination program expands to include youth ages 12+

MAY 22 2021

HAMILTON, ON – The Hamilton healthcare partners continue to make progress in vaccinating members of the community who fall into the Province’s COVID-19 Vaccination Framework. We are pleased to announce that to date, we have administered approximately 266,429 doses of COVD-19 vaccine – with upwards of 52.2% of Hamiltonians over the age of 18 receiving a vaccine to date.

In alignment with Provincial direction, effective Sunday, May 23, 2021 those youth in Hamilton who are aged 12 and older at time of vaccination are eligible to book an appointment to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.  Over coming days, more information will be released regarding specialized family-friendly vaccination clinics in Hamilton for youth who may have complex needs.

In an effort to get families vaccinated as quickly as possible, eligible family members who have not received a vaccination are encouraged to book an appointment to attend a vaccination clinic.

Booking a vaccination appointment

Appointments for vaccination at a Hamilton mass vaccination clinic can be booked through the provincial online booking system found at www.hamilton.ca/VaccineBooking or by calling the Provincial call centre at 1-888-999-6488. To book an appointment online, these individuals must already be 12 years old as of the date of their booking. Individuals who are not 12 years old on Sunday, May 23, 2021 can book an appointment for a later date through the provincial call centre.

For those who do not have access to the internet or a computer, or do not have a valid Ontario photo health card, please call the Public Health Services COVID-19 Hotline at 905-974-9848, option 7 to book an appointment. Due to potential call volumes expected at the call centre, the City of Hamilton encourages everyone to self-register online if able to so, it's the quickest process to get an appointment. The hotline is trying to focus on those without health cards and those without computer access.

Public Health Services recommends that everyone who is eligible for a vaccination receive the first vaccine that is available to them. We need to work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community, to reserve healthcare and hospital capacity and to protect vulnerable populations.

Quick facts

• The Pfizer vaccine is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized by Health Canada for use in individuals aged 12 and over
• Vaccine administration rates may differ based on local context.
• Information regarding registration, booking, and frequently asked questions are available on the COVID-19 Vaccines section of the City’s website at www.hamilton.ca/COVIDvaccines.
• All vaccination planning is based on and contingent on available COVID-19 vaccine supply.
• It is vital that members of the public, even those who have been vaccinated, ensure that public health measures still be practiced until it is safe and said to be safe by the health professionals in all levels of government. Public health measures include:  
  • stay home if you are feeling unwell
  • get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19
  • limit gatherings to only members of your immediate household
  • maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet or 2 meters from others outside of your immediate household
  • wear a mask or face covering indoors and outdoors when not able to maintain physical distancing
  • wash hands frequently

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Expanding to Youth 12+ Ahead of Schedule
www.hamilton.ca/COVIDvaccines
www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus
covid-19.ontario.ca
Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 905-974-9848 option 7 or [email protected]