Durham Region residents 70-plus now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to residents who are 70 years and older, or those who will be turning 70 in 2021. Appointments for the 70-plus eligibility group will begin at 1 p.m. on March 29. To book an appointment, visit www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment. Residents who need assistance to book an appointment can call 1-888-444-5113. In addition to residents 70 and older, the Health Department will continue to provide vaccinations for the current priority groups including adult recipients of chronic home care and health care workers in the High Priority level, as outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Health. For a full list of the current priority groups see www.durham.ca/covidvaccines.

Durham Region residents are welcome to attend a clinic in any area municipality. Appointments are now available at Health Department clinics in Ajax, Clarington, Pickering and Whitby. These clinics operate daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Clinics in north Durham – Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge – operate on a rotating basis, with one clinic scheduled for Brock and two clinics each scheduled for Scugog and Uxbridge every week. Appointments are currently available in Brock on April 7, Scugog on April 4 and 5, and Uxbridge on April 9 and 10; these clinics all operate from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. To book an appointment for any municipal clinic, visit www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment. Residents who need assistance to book an appointment can call 1-888-444-5113. See www.durham.ca/covidvaccines for a full list of clinics and addresses. Residents are asked to book only one appointment per person. Also, if you already have an appointment and choose to book for another time or at a different clinic location, please remember to cancel the first appointment to avoid duplication, helping to ensure appointments are available for everyone.

Appointments are also available for the Oshawa site located at Durham College/Ontario Tech University Campus Ice Centre, 2000 Simcoe Street North, To book and appointment for this location visit covidvaccine.lh.ca or call 905-721-4828; this clinic operates daily from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

It should be noted that while the province also has a provincial booking system for COVID-19 vaccination appointments, Durham Region residents who access the provincial booking system will be transferred back to the Durham Region booking system. It is recommended that area residents continue to use www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment or call 1-888-444-5113 to book appointments.

The Health Department is still experiencing a shortage of vaccine. The ongoing operation of clinics is dependent on vaccine supply which is received from the province. For a listing of all clinic locations or for more information on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for Durham Region visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines.

Read this article on Durham Region's website.

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