Region of Waterloo Public Health set to open more vaccination clinics

Region of Waterloo Public Health is getting ready to expand COVID-19 vaccination efforts. 

The Ontario government announced Monday that certain high-risk groups are now eligible for Moderna's bivalent vaccine, which targets both the original COVID-19 strain and the Omicron variant. 

The priority groups include residents of long-term care and retirement homes, those who are aged 12 and up and are moderately-to-severely immunocompromised, and any adult aged 70 and older. It's also available for pregnant individuals, Indigenous adults, and health care workers. Full details can be found by clicking here.

A release from Region of Waterloo Public Health read, “A booster dose of this bivalent vaccine will provide added protection during the fall and winter months when the community transmission of COVID-19 is expected to increase due to more time spent indoors and a seasonal increase in the circulation of respiratory viruses.”

Appointments can be made for regional vaccination clinics by using the province's online booking portal. 

All adults aged 18 and up in Ontario will also become eligible for the new booster near the end of the month. Appointments can be made as of Monday, as long as they're scheduled for September 26 and beyond. 

Region of Waterloo Public Health said it's in the process of increasing the number of available, regional vaccination clinic locations to help meet the demand. 

More information on the rollout is set to become available in the coming weeks. 

The last remaining mass vaccination clinic in Waterloo Region closed its doors in June.