Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccination program expands to include individuals with at-risk health conditions, individuals from “Cannot Work from Home – Group 2”, and individuals ages 40+

HAMILTON, ON – The Hamilton healthcare partners continue to make progress in vaccinating members of the community who fall into Phases 1 & 2 of the Province’s COVID-19 Vaccination Framework. We are pleased to announce that to date, we have administered approximately 217,677 doses of COVD-19 vaccine – with upwards of 42% of Hamiltonians over the age of 16 receiving a vaccine to date.

In alignment with Provincial direction, effective Tuesday, May 11, 2021, individuals from the “at-risk health condition” population and those individuals from the “Cannot Work from Home – Group 2” population are eligible to book an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. 

Individuals with at-risk health conditions

Individuals with the following at-risk health conditions are eligible to book a vaccine appointment:

• Immune deficiencies and autoimmune disorders
• Stroke and cerebrovascular disease
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• All other cancers
• Respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy
• Spleen problems, such as asplenia
• Heart disease
• Hypertension with end organ damage
• Diagnosed mental disorder
• Substance use disorders
• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemia
• Immunocompromising health conditions
• Other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community

According to the Provincial government, this list is not exhaustive – healthcare practitioners will use their best medical judgement to vaccinate patients with health conditions not listed (such as rare diseases) that may put them at similar or greater risk to the listed conditions.  Learn more about eligibility for at-risk health conditions.

Self-attestation will be required when booking an appointment as having an at-risk health condition. Individuals with at-risk health conditions will receive their second dose at the 16-week second dose extended interval as per the Provincial Government.

People who cannot work from home who fall under Group Two  

Group 2 includes:

• Essential and critical retail workers (including grocery, foodbank, pharmacy, ServiceOntario, ServiceCanada, Passport Canada, wholesalers and general goods, restaurant, LCBO workers)
• Workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID-19 response, construction (including infrastructure) and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at heightened risk for COVID-19 outbreaks and spread
• Social workers and social services staff who provide in-person client services (including youth justice workers, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program case workers)
• Courts and justice system workers (including probation and parole workers)
• Transportation, warehousing and distribution workers (including public transit workers, truck drivers supporting essential services, marine and rail cargo and maintenance, highway maintenance)
• Electricity (including system operations, generation, transmission, distribution and storage workers)
• Communications infrastructure workers (including cellular, satellite, landline, internet, public safety radio)
• Water and wastewater management workers
• Financial services workers (bank branch staff)
• Veterinarians and veterinary teams
• Waste management workers
• Oil and petroleum workers (including petroleum refineries, crude oil and petroleum storage, transmission and distribution, retail sale of fuel)
• Natural gas and propane gas workers (including compression, storage, transmission and distribution of natural gas and propane)
• Mine workers (including those needed to ensure the continued operation of active mines)
• Uranium processing workers (those working in the refining and conversion of uranium and fabrication of fuel for nuclear power plants) 

Self-attestation will be required when booking an appointment as not being able to work from home. Learn more about eligibility for “Cannot work from home – Group 2”.

Individuals turning 40 and over in 2021

In addition, effective Thursday, May 13, 2021, those residents in Hamilton who are 40 years of age and older (in 2021) are eligible to book an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. 

Booking a vaccination appointment.

All eligible populations above can book an appointment online. Appointments for vaccination can be booked through the provincial online booking system that can be found at www.hamilton.ca/VaccineBooking or by calling the Provincial call centre at 1-888-999-6488.

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. These are all by-appointment only clinics, walk-ins are not permitted.

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

• In alignment with the Province, priority populations who have been only able to book via the provincial call centre will now also be able to book online, including individuals with the highest risk health conditions, child care workers in licensed child care settings and education workers who provide direct support to students with special education needs.
• Vaccine administration rates may differ based on local context.
• Second doses for the COVID-19 vaccine have been extended to a 16-week interval by the Provincial Government.
• Information regarding registration, booking, and sequencing will be available on the COVID-19 Vaccines section of the City’s website at www.hamilton.ca/COVIDvaccines.
• Vaccination phasing and sequencing will continue to be released for additional categories as per the direction of the provincial government.
• 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

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