The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is pleased to announce that starting March 15th, 2021, residents 80 years of age and older can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment using Ontario’s online booking system. In accordance with the latest recommendations, those booking will be given appointments for first and second doses, 16 weeks apart.
In addition, the EOHU is launching an online pre-registration tool and asking all remaining individuals listed within the province’s Phase 1 priority populations, who have not yet been vaccinated or not yet booked an appointment, to pre-register. Pre-registration facilitates booking appointments quickly and easily as vaccine supply increases and more appointments become available.
Provincial Online Booking System
On March 15th at 8 a.m., Ontario’s vaccine booking system will launch and begin to accept vaccine bookings for individuals who will be turning 80 or older in 2021 (born in 1941 or earlier). Booking will be available at www.Ontario.ca/bookvaccine. Individuals who require assistance with booking can call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488.
The booking system will screen for eligibility based on age using health card information. Appointments can be made by an individual or with the help of family or an informal caregiver (note: family/informal caregivers born after 1941 cannot book an appointment for themselves at this time, however, they may use the EOHU Pre-Registration tool to pre-register for an appointment).
If you have a family member or provide care to someone who was born in 1941 or before, please encourage them to get vaccinated. Vaccinations will be available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at vaccine clinics being held across the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry; the United Counties of Prescott-Russell; and the City of Cornwall. Alternate arrangements will be made for individuals who notify us of barriers preventing them from physically going to a clinic.
EOHU Pre-Registration Tool
Those who are not in the 80+ age group, but who are eligible for the vaccine based on the Phase 1 priority populations, must first pre-register using the EOHU online pre-registration tool at www.EOHU.ca/register. Once vaccine supply permits, those who have pre-registered will receive a code that will give them access to the provincial booking system.
Please note that pre-registration does not guarantee that you will get an appointment immediately. You may not get your appointment booking code for a week or longer, depending on vaccine supply.
Ongoing Collaboration
The EOHU appreciates that there is keen interest in receiving the vaccine. At this time, however, only eligible individuals can schedule an appointment. We ask the public to please help us keep the online tools and phone lines available for those who are eligible to book an appointment. Cooperation from the public will go a long way to help ensure local vaccination clinics can operate efficiently and effectively.
It remains extremely important to continue following public health precautions – even if you have received the vaccine – until a large majority of residents in our region have been vaccinated.
For the latest updates about COVID-19 vaccines, including which population groups are eligible to receive it and how to access it, please regularly visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s website at www.EOHU.ca/vaccines.