COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility

Please continue to check this page for the latest information on which groups are eligible to book an appointment for a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine eligibility outlined below applies to the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit region.

Who is currently eligible?

As of 04/08/2021, vaccination is currently available in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties for:

Adults aged 65 years or older (born in 1956 or earlier)
Special education teachers
Individuals with High-Risk Health Conditions AND one caregiver IF the individual requires substantial and sustained personal care
- Obesity with a BMI >40
- Treatments causing immunosuppression (includes chemotherapy, biologics, etc.)
- Intellectual disabilities preventing an individual from practicing public health measures (includes Down Syndrome etc.)
Individuals with Highest-Risk health conditions AND one caregiver
- Organ transplant recipients
- Stem cell transplant recipients
- Neurological diseases that impact the respiratory systems (includes MS, ALS, myasthenia gravis, etc.)
- Hematological malignancy diagnosed in the past year (includes multiple myelomas, leukemias, and lymphomas)
- Kidney disease with an eGFR<30
Faith leaders (must be providing funerals, end of life care, visiting elderly or ill patients, or conducting religious rituals in close physical proximity)
Residents and staff in congregate settings (includes SAWs, developmental settings, homelessness shelters, and more) – AND essential caregivers in some of these settings (please refer to Ministry documents)
Any individual missed from Phase 1
- LTCH/ RH residents, staff, or essential caregivers
- Adults receiving chronic home care
- Adults awaiting placement in a RH or LTCH (have a confirmed bed)
- Healthcare workers at all priority levels who interact with their patients in-person (i.e. excludes those working entirely remotely)
- Hospital staff or healthcare setting staff (all non-HCWs in office)
- Emergency responders: police, coast guard, paramedics, patient transport, etc.
- Indigenous adults AND their adult household members

Once you become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, you will remain eligible.

Learn more about Ontario’s three-phase COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.

Are you 70+ and still waiting for your first vaccine? Please fill out this form.

Eligible: Phase One (December 2020-March 2021)

The vaccine eligibility outlined below applies to the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit region.

All long-term care and retirement home residents, staff, and essential caregivers (as designated by the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007). Hospital patients who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care or retirement home, or other congregate care home for seniors, are also eligible if operationally feasible.
All hospital and acute care staff in frontline roles with COVID-19 patients and/or with the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19, including those performing aerosol-generating procedures. These are limited to regularly scheduled staff (full-time or part-time) and not transient workers. They must work in the following areas: Critical Care Units Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Departments COVID-19 Medical Units Code Blue Teams and rapid response teams General internal medicine and other specialists involved in the direct care of COVID-19 positive patients
All patient-facing health care workers involved in the COVID-19 response, including: COVID-19 Assessment Centres and Mobile Testing teams COVID-19 vaccine clinics and mobile immunization teams COVID-19 Isolation Centres COVID-19 Laboratory Services
Medical First Responders ORNGE, paramedics, firefighters providing medical first response
Community health care workers, who are patient-facing, serving specialized populations, including: Needle exchange or syringe programs, and supervised consumption and treatment services Aboriginal Health Access Centres, Indigenous Community Health Centres, Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Teams, and Indigenous Nurse Practitioner-led Clinics Community health centers (CHCs) serving disproportionately affected communities Home and community care health care workers who care for recipients of chronic homecare, or care for seniors in congregate living facilities, or provide hands-on care to COVID-19 patients in the community
Frontline health care workers working in hospital inpatient settings and hospital procedural areas, including: surgical care anesthesia obstetrics endoscopy operating rooms dialysis imaging chemotherapy radiotherapy
Residents and staff in other congregate care settings for seniors, including assisted living facilities.
Adults aged 80 and older (born in 1941 or earlier)
Indigenous adults aged 55 and older (born in 1966 or earlier) Eligible individuals must self-identify as Indigenous when presenting at the clinic
Indigenous adults aged 16 and older living on reserve Eligible only at on-reserve clinics.
Adults aged 16 and older who are recipients of chronic home care
Frontline health care workers in the following outpatient and ambulatory areas: Hospital-based outpatient clinics Primary care, including walk-in clinics, community health centres, and nurse-practitioner-led clinics Home and community care Adult day programs for seniors Community-based specialty clinics, including medical and surgical specialties Death investigation professionals Dentistry Gynecology/obstetrics, midwifery, and birth centres Contract nursing agencies Pharmacies Assisted living, group homes, residential facilities, and supportive housing Correctional settings Hospices and palliative care settings Shelters
Laboratory services
Residents and staff of congregate settings with a history of outbreak or with high-risk populations, at the discretion of the local public health unit.
Frontline healthcare workers in the following outpatient and ambulatory areas:• Developmental services Mental health and addictions services Campus health Community diagnostic imaging Daycare/school nursing Dietary / nutrition Independent health facilities (e.g., Opticians/Optometry, Podiatry, Audiology) Naturopathy / Holistic care Social work Sexual health clinics
Frontline healthcare workers in the following non-acute rehabilitation and therapy areas:• Chiropractic Chronic pain clinics Kinesiology Occupational therapy Physiotherapy Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapy Registered massage therapy Acupuncture, or other therapy
Public health
Non-Frontline health care workers, including those working remotely, in administration, and who do not require PPE to work

All long-term care and retirement home residents, staff, and essential caregivers (as designated by the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007). Hospital patients who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care or retirement home, or other congregate care home for seniors, are also eligible if operationally feasible.

All hospital and acute care staff in frontline roles with COVID-19 patients and/or with the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19, including those performing aerosol-generating procedures. These are limited to regularly scheduled staff (full-time or part-time) and not transient workers. They must work in the following areas:

Critical Care Units
Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Departments
COVID-19 Medical Units
Code Blue Teams and rapid response teams
General internal medicine and other specialists involved in the direct care of COVID-19 positive patients

All patient-facing health care workers involved in the COVID-19 response, including:

COVID-19 Assessment Centres and Mobile Testing teams
COVID-19 vaccine clinics and mobile immunization teams
COVID-19 Isolation Centres
COVID-19 Laboratory Services

Medical First Responders

ORNGE, paramedics, firefighters providing medical first response

Community health care workers, who are patient-facing, serving specialized populations, including:

Needle exchange or syringe programs, and supervised consumption and treatment services
Aboriginal Health Access Centres, Indigenous Community Health Centres, Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Teams, and Indigenous Nurse Practitioner-led Clinics
Community health centers (CHCs) serving disproportionately affected communities
Home and community care health care workers who care for recipients of chronic homecare, or care for seniors in congregate living facilities, or provide hands-on care to COVID-19 patients in the community

Frontline health care workers working in hospital inpatient settings and hospital procedural areas, including:

surgical care
anesthesia
obstetrics
endoscopy
operating rooms
dialysis
imaging
chemotherapy
radiotherapy

Residents and staff in other congregate care settings for seniors, including assisted living facilities.

Adults aged 80 and older (born in 1941 or earlier)

Indigenous adults aged 55 and older (born in 1966 or earlier)

Eligible individuals must self-identify as Indigenous when presenting at the clinic

Indigenous adults aged 16 and older living on reserve

Eligible only at on-reserve clinics.

Adults aged 16 and older who are recipients of chronic home care

Frontline health care workers in the following outpatient and ambulatory areas:

Hospital-based outpatient clinics
Primary care, including walk-in clinics, community health centres, and nurse-practitioner-led clinics
Home and community care
Adult day programs for seniors
Community-based specialty clinics, including medical and surgical specialties
Death investigation professionals
Dentistry
Gynecology/obstetrics, midwifery, and birth centres
Contract nursing agencies
Pharmacies
Assisted living, group homes, residential facilities, and supportive housing
Correctional settings
Hospices and palliative care settings
Shelters

Laboratory services

Residents and staff of congregate settings with a history of outbreak or with high-risk populations, at the discretion of the local public health unit.

Frontline healthcare workers in the following outpatient and ambulatory areas:• Developmental services

Mental health and addictions services
Campus health
Community diagnostic imaging
Daycare/school nursing
Dietary / nutrition
Independent health facilities (e.g., Opticians/Optometry, Podiatry, Audiology)
Naturopathy / Holistic care
Social work
Sexual health clinics

Frontline healthcare workers in the following non-acute rehabilitation and therapy areas:• Chiropractic

Chronic pain clinics
Kinesiology
Occupational therapy
Physiotherapy
Psychiatry
Psychology
Psychotherapy
Registered massage therapy
Acupuncture, or other therapy

Public health

Non-Frontline health care workers, including those working remotely, in administration, and who do not require PPE to work

Eligible: Phase Two (April 2021-July 2021)

As per the Ontario Ministry of Health’s guidance document, individuals eligible for COVID-19 vaccination within Phase 2 are further subdivided into two priority groups, Primary Priority and Secondary Priority groups.

The groups identified as a Primary Priority will be offered a vaccine first in Phase 2 of Ontario’s vaccination program. When all reasonable efforts have been made to offer a first dose of vaccine to all those within the Primary Priority groups, vaccination will proceed for those in the Secondary Priority groups.

Primary Priority Group

Adults aged 60-79, starting with those 75-79 and decreasing in 5-year increments
Individuals with specific health conditions, starting with Highest Risk and High-Risk health conditions Highest-Risk Organ transplant recipients Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients People with neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (for example, motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis) Haematological malignancy diagnosed within the last year Kidney disease with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) under 30 High-Risk Obesity (BMI over 40) Other treatments causing immunosuppression (for example, chemotherapy, immunity-weakening medications) Intellectual or developmental disabilities (for example, Down Syndrome) At-Risk Immune deficiencies/ autoimmune disorders Stroke/cerebrovascular disease; diabetes; spleen problems Liver disease; respiratory diseases; heart disease; all cancers Pregnancy Diagnosis of mental disorder; substance use disorders; dementia Hypertension with end-organ damage; Thalassemia; sickle cell disease Other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community Individuals in Highest-Risk and High-Risk groups may have up to one primary essential caregiver vaccinated. An essential caregiver is someone providing direct, frequent, and sustained in-person personal care and/or assistance with activities of daily living to the individual.
Secondary Priority Group
Remaining Individuals with At-Risk Health Conditions
Essential Workers who cannot work from home, starting with those in the First Group and then proceeding to those in the Second Group.
First Group of Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home Elementary/ secondary school workers (including educators, custodial, school bus drivers, administrative staff) Workers responding to critical events (including police, fire, special constables, children’s aid society workers, emergency management, critical infrastructure restoration workers) Enforcement, inspection, and compliance roles (including by-law enforcement, building inspectors, food inspectors, animal welfare inspectors, border inspection officers, labour inspectors / WSIB field workers) Individuals working in childcare as follows: All licensees, employees, and students on an educational placement who interact directly with children in licensed childcare centres and in authorized recreation and skill-building programs Licensed home child care and in-home service providers, employees of a home child care agency, and students on an educational placement Foster care agency workers (including customary care providers) Food manufacturing and distribution workers Agriculture and farm workers Funeral, crematorium, and cemetery workers
Second Group of Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home Essential and critical retail workers (including grocery, foodbank and non-clinical pharmacy workers, ServiceOntario workers, ServiceCanada and Passport Canada workers, wholesalers and general goods, restaurant workers, LCBO) Workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID-19 response, construction including infrastructure, and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at heightened risk for COVID-19 outbreaks and spread Social workers and other social services staff providing in-person client services (including youth justice workers, OW, and ODSP caseworkers) Courts and justice system workers (including probation and parole workers) Transportation, warehousing, and distribution workers (including public transit workers, truck drivers supporting essential services, marine and rail cargo, and maintenance, highway maintenance) Electricity (including workers employed in system operations, generation, transmission, distribution, and storage) Communications infrastructure workers (including cellular, satellite, landline, internet, public safety radio) Water and wastewater management workers Financial services workers (bank branch staff) Veterinarians and veterinary teams Waste management workers Oil and petroleum workers (including those working in petroleum refineries; those involved in the storage, transmission, and distribution of crude oil and petroleum products and those needed for the retail sale of fuel) Natural gas and propane gas workers (including those working in the compression, storage, transmission, and distribution of natural gas and propane) Mineworkers (including those needed to ensure the continued operation of active mines) Uranium processing workers (those working in the refining and conversion of uranium, and fabrication of fuel for nuclear power plants).

Adults aged 60-79, starting with those 75-79 and decreasing in 5-year increments

Individuals with specific health conditions, starting with Highest Risk and High-Risk health conditions

Highest-Risk

Organ transplant recipients
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
People with neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (for example, motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis)
Haematological malignancy diagnosed within the last year
Kidney disease with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) under 30

High-Risk

Obesity (BMI over 40)
Other treatments causing immunosuppression (for example, chemotherapy, immunity-weakening medications)
Intellectual or developmental disabilities (for example, Down Syndrome)

At-Risk

Immune deficiencies/ autoimmune disorders
Stroke/cerebrovascular disease; diabetes; spleen problems
Liver disease; respiratory diseases; heart disease; all cancers
Pregnancy
Diagnosis of mental disorder; substance use disorders; dementia
Hypertension with end-organ damage; Thalassemia; sickle cell disease
Other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community

Individuals in Highest-Risk and High-Risk groups may have up to one primary essential caregiver vaccinated.

An essential caregiver is someone providing direct, frequent, and sustained in-person personal care and/or assistance with activities of daily living to the individual.

Secondary Priority Group

Remaining Individuals with At-Risk Health Conditions

Essential Workers who cannot work from home, starting with those in the First Group and then proceeding to those in the Second Group.

First Group of Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home

Elementary/ secondary school workers (including educators, custodial, school bus drivers, administrative staff)
Workers responding to critical events (including police, fire, special constables, children’s aid society workers, emergency management, critical infrastructure restoration workers)
Enforcement, inspection, and compliance roles (including by-law enforcement, building inspectors, food inspectors, animal welfare inspectors, border inspection officers, labour inspectors / WSIB field workers)
Individuals working in childcare as follows:
- All licensees, employees, and students on an educational placement who interact directly with children in licensed childcare centres and in authorized recreation and skill-building programs
- Licensed home child care and in-home service providers, employees of a home child care agency, and students on an educational placement
- Foster care agency workers (including customary care providers)
- Food manufacturing and distribution workers
- Agriculture and farm workers
- Funeral, crematorium, and cemetery workers

Second Group of Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home

Essential and critical retail workers (including grocery, foodbank and non-clinical pharmacy workers, ServiceOntario workers, ServiceCanada and Passport Canada workers, wholesalers and general goods, restaurant workers, LCBO)
Workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID-19 response, construction including infrastructure, and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at heightened risk for COVID-19 outbreaks and spread
Social workers and other social services staff providing in-person client services (including youth justice workers, OW, and ODSP caseworkers)
Courts and justice system workers (including probation and parole workers)
Transportation, warehousing, and distribution workers (including public transit workers, truck drivers supporting essential services, marine and rail cargo, and maintenance, highway maintenance)
Electricity (including workers employed in system operations, generation, transmission, distribution, and storage)
Communications infrastructure workers (including cellular, satellite, landline, internet, public safety radio)
Water and wastewater management workers
Financial services workers (bank branch staff)
Veterinarians and veterinary teams
Waste management workers
Oil and petroleum workers (including those working in petroleum refineries; those involved in the storage, transmission, and distribution of crude oil and petroleum products and those needed for the retail sale of fuel)
Natural gas and propane gas workers (including those working in the compression, storage, transmission, and distribution of natural gas and propane)
Mineworkers (including those needed to ensure the continued operation of active mines)
Uranium processing workers (those working in the refining and conversion of uranium, and fabrication of fuel for nuclear power plants).

Learn more about Ontario’s three-phase COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booking System

Online bookings are available for eligible priority populations in Haldimand and Norfolk County.

The online form can be found here.

Vaccination clinics are by appointment only. No walk-ins will be accepted at clinic locations.

Only book ONE appointment; do not book appointments at multiple clinics

Online appointments are currently only being booked for FIRST dose appointments.

New direction from the province has resulted in a change to the COVID-19 vaccination schedule. Starting immediately, the period between the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be extended up to 120 days. All previously scheduled appointments for second doses are cancelled at this time. Please do not call the HNHU to book an appointment for your second dose or to reschedule a previously booked second dose appointment. You will be notified by the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit when you are eligible to re-book your second dose.

We strongly recommend online booking. If you are unable to book online, please ask a family member, loved one, or friend for assistance.

If you are unable to book online, please call 519-427-5903 to access our booking line. Please leave a message with your name and phone number. Someone from our team will call you back to book an appointment. Please have a valid health card or other alternative types of government-issued identification ready for the individual(s) you are booking an appointment for. As we have a high volume of calls, we appreciate your patience.

Vaccine Stand-by Waitlist

The Haldimand-Norfolk Vaccine Task Force has launched a waitlist to ensure all available vaccine doses are administered. Currently, we are accepting the names and contact information for individuals who are aged 60-64 years (born in the years 1957-1961.)