News

Community Vaccine Update – May 14, 2021

Vaccine doses administered so far: 46,205

Number of people completely vaccinated: 5,102

Status updates / information on second doses: 

• The Health Unit is currently vaccinating eligible individuals in Phase 2 of the province’s rollout framework. Current eligibility details can be found at hnhu.org/covax-eligible.
• Individuals who received their first dose of vaccine prior to April 20 are currently being contacted by the Health Unit to schedule second dose appointments. Second doses are being booked by date of first dose, not by age or group, to ensure they are administered within the 16-week (112 day) timeframe established by the province.
• If you have not received a phone call from the Health Unit and it is more than 90 days after your first dose, please call the vaccine hotline at 519-427-5903 and leave a message for follow-up.
• All appointments from May 19 onward may be booked using the provincial tool.
• As the province expands eligibility further, there will be an increased demand for vaccine appointments. The Health Unit has requested additional doses in order to meet these demands and expedite community rollout. Clinics continue to run at capacity, and appointments are being added as vaccine supply is received.

Information regarding AstraZeneca vaccine:

• Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has advised that the Ontario government is reviewing data to consider whether to use AstraZeneca for second doses. The province will be announcing next steps and guidance for people who received AstraZeneca as a first dose.
• All mass clinic sites in Haldimand and Norfolk are administering the Pfizer vaccine, while participating physicians have been administering Moderna.
•  Individuals who received a first dose of AstraZeneca at a participating local pharmacy will be contacted regarding next steps once further instruction is provided by the province.

Eligibility and waitlist information:

• Individuals 40 and above, essential workers in Group 1 and Group 2 and individuals from all other previous groups are currently eligible to book online.
• Individuals 18+ become eligible across Ontario beginning May 24.
• The province is finalizing plans to administer both doses of vaccine to youth aged 12 to 17. The province anticipates these vaccinations for youth will be offered from mid-June to the end of August, in collaboration with school boards and other partners.
• Waitlists continue to be an integral part of the local vaccine rollout strategy by ensuring unused doses (due to cancellations, no shows, etc) never go to waste and priority populations are receiving their shots as quickly as possible.
• If appointments are not available in the online booking system, the following priority groups may add their names to specific waitlists for potential end-of-day appointments: pregnant women, essential workers and at-risk health conditions.

Transportation services:

• Individuals who are eligible but who have not received a vaccine due to transportation issues may reach out to the HNHU via email ([email protected]) or phone (519-427-5903) to request assistance. These services are reserved for individuals where transportation has been a barrier to receiving a vaccination.

For more information about vaccine rollout in Haldimand and Norfolk counties, visit HNHU.org/covax.