Region to continue use of local vaccine booking system ‘for the immediate future’

By Luke Schulz

Posted Mar 14, 2021 05:44:00 PM.

As the Ford Government announced on Sunday the launch of its provincial booking system for COVID-19 vaccines, our regional health officials have clarified that the Region of Waterloo will continue using our local booking system for the foreseeable future.

Established to assist with the booking of appointments for mass immunization clinics, the provincial booking portal will be live beginning on Monday for individuals aged 80 and older.

In a release sent to 570 NEWS from Region of Waterloo Public Health, Deputy Chief of Waterloo Region Police Service and head of our Vaccine Distribution Task Force Shirley Hilton said the province has asked communities that already have their own systems in place to continue use of their local system to “alleviate expected pressure on the provincial system.”

“We will continue to use the region’s booking system for the immediate future and will work with the Province in the days and weeks ahead.”

To pre-register for a vaccine shot in Waterloo Region, individuals are encouraged to visit the Region of Waterloo website, or to contact the Service First Call Centre at 519-575-4400. According to the region, that call centre is available at all hours of the day, with over 200 languages available to serve our local residents.

The region has also clarified that it could take up to four to six weeks for eligible individuals to be contacted for an appointment. Those who have pre-registered are being asked not to call in to check the status of their appointment, as officials said everyone who pre-registers will be contacted when vaccination appointments are available.

Pre-registration is currently only available for eligible priority groups – as individuals who are not a part of those groups are also being asked to not register at this time.

Eligible priority groups include:

  • Adult recipients of chronic home care
  • Adults 80 years of age and older
  • Adults 70-79 years of age
  • Health care workers (all categories)
  • Indigenous adults (incl. individuals and elders regardless of status or Indigenous identity and their immediate household members)
  • Long-term care and retirement homes staff 
  • Long-term care and retirement homes essential caregivers
  • Seniors group settings staff and residents
  • Seniors group setting essential caregivers

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