By: Laura Steiner
The Region of Halton has opened its COVID19 vaccine appointments to the next age group. Residents born in or before 1956 will be able to book an appointment beginning Wednesday.
“Our ability to keep vaccinating at this pace remains contingent on ongoing vaccine supply from the federal and provincial governments,” Halton Region Chair Gary Carr said. Appointments can be booked through the region’s website at the six mass vaccination clinics throughout Halton including the FirstOntario Centre for the Arts- Milton. Appointments are available through April. Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital is offering earlier appointments to eligible residents, no matter the municipality. Vaccine clinics are not taking walk-in appointments.
Those in the following five groups are currently eligible:
- all Halton residents 65 and older (born in 1956 or earlier);
- Indigenous adults (including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations) aged 55 years of age or older;
- staff and essential caregivers from long-term care or retirement homes in Halton who have not received their first dose;
- health care workers identified as highest priority, very high priority and high priority (providing direct, non-virtual care at least once a week) who live OR work in Halton; and
- adults receiving chronic home care through a Local Health Integration Network or a home care agency.
“Although we have made significant progress in our vaccine rollout, we are seeing an increase in cases, particularly among variants of concern, and are firmly in a third wave of COVID-19,” Halton’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hamidah Meghani said. Halton reports 591 cases of COVID-19’s variant strains. 189 cases are in Milton.
Meghani advises residents to continue following all public health guidance, including wearing a mask, and physical distancing. “As we approach the long weekend, I urge residents to remain vigilant and not gather with individuals outside your household.
