GUELPH – Two days after announcing that people aged 70 and over can pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine, public health has opened the process to people aged 60 and up.
On March 10, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) announced that people in Phase 2 of Ontario’s Vaccination Plan are now eligible to pre-register.
Phase 2 includes:
- adults 60 to 79 years of age (80+ can still pre-register as well);
- congregate settings staff;
- congregate setting residents and their primary caregivers;
- individuals with select health conditions;
- essential caregivers for individuals with highest-risk health conditions; and
- essential workers who cannot work from home.
“As the vaccine supply expands, we continue to focus on vaccinating Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph against COVID-19 as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health.
“The province’s rapid distribution of vaccines across Ontario has facilitated the progress we are seeing in protecting the most vulnerable residents of our region.”
In an interview March 9, WDGPH spokesperson Danny Williamson said there will be overlap as Phase 1 vaccinations wrap up and Phase 2 begins.
And as distribution of the vaccines accelerates, more occupations will be added to the eligibility list, including teachers, firefighters, those who work in grocery stores and pharmacies, and in the food and agriculture industries.
Pre-registration does not mean you immediately have an appointment, so be prepared for some lag time, officials state.
Anyone in Phase 1 of the program who hasn’t received the shot is still eligible to register.
Public health encourages everyone to pre-register online but there is a help line available (1-844-780-0202) for those having trouble pre-registering.
Library staff in Guelph and Wellington County are also prepared to help.
Call volumes are high, so individuals using the help line should be aware that it could take several days to receive a response.
“We are grateful for the leadership of many partners from across our region as we work to end this pandemic,” said Mercer.
“The contributions from across the healthcare system (through our Ontario Health Teams), municipal governments, the private sector and the public sector show a serious commitment to tackling COVID-19 together.”
For more information on the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph vaccination program, visit wdgpublichealth.ca/vaccine.
