York Region opening approximately 78,000 new COVID-19 vaccine appointments

Media Release

Those age 35+ who live or work in 16 high priority areas now eligible for vaccines

Newmarket – The Regional Municipality of York is continuing to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to eligible residents as identified in Phase 2 of the Government of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan.

Effective Tuesday, May 4, 2021 beginning at 8:30 a.m., individuals age 35+ who live or work in any of York Region’s 16 high priority areas are now eligible to book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination. 

Appointments for vaccines can be booked by visiting york.ca/COVID19Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are available to the following:

• UPDATED: Individuals age 35+ living or working (NEW) in the following identified high priority communities in York Region:
  • City of Vaughan postal codes: L0J (NEW), L3L (NEW), L4H, L4J, L4K, L4L, L6A
  • City of Markham postal codes: L3T (NEW), L6B (NEW), L6C (NEW), L6E (NEW), L3S
  • City of Richmond Hill postal codes: L4B (NEW), L4C (NEW), L4E (NEW)
  • Town of East Gwillimbury postal code: L9N (NEW)
• UPDATED: Licensed child-care staff (NEW) and special education staff who live or work in York Region (appropriate documentation required)
• All York Region residents age 60+ (born in 1961 or earlier) 
• Individuals (and one essential caregiver) with highest and high risk health conditions as identified in Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, including pregnant individuals
• Highest, very high and high priority health care workers as identified in the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Work Prioritization who work or live in York Region 
• Staff, essential caregivers and any residents that have not yet received a first dose in long-term care homes, retirement homes, congregate care settings for seniors and First Nations elder care homes
• Alternative level of care patients in hospitals who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care home, retirement home or other congregate care home for seniors
• Indigenous adults and members of their households
• Adults receiving home care services who live in York Region (appropriate documentation required)
• Faith leaders who live or work in York Region and provide end of life care, care of the deceased, care of those who are unwell or provides pastoral services in vulnerable settings

Approximately 78,000 vaccination appointments will be released for these eligible groups. 

Individuals who work in York Region will require workplace identification at the time of their appointment. More information to help you prepare for your appointment is available at york.ca/covid19vaccinebeforeyougo

York Region residents age 40+ book can book a vaccination appointment at any participating pharmacy in the province or through select clinics in York Region. 

At this time, due to a shortage in vaccine supply, York Region is not offering online booking for those between the ages of 18 and 34 who live in high priority communities and residents age 50-59. However, beginning Monday, May 3, 2021, individuals ages 18+ in hot spots L0J, L3S, L3T, L4B, L4E, L4H, L4J, L4K, L4L, L6A, L6B, L6C, L6E will be eligible to book a vaccine through the provincial booking system, as will all residents 50+ beginning Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Currently, more than 410,000 York Region eligible residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This represents approximately 40% of the Region’s total eligible population. York Region will continue to offer additional appointments and look to expand eligibility criteria as more vaccine becomes available.

Appointments are required. Walk-in appointments are not available. Please do not visit a vaccination clinic without an appointment – you will be turned away.

As York Region continues to experience high COVID-19 incidence, residents are reminded the best vaccine is the first one offered to you. Everyone is encouraged to take whichever vaccine is available to them as soon as possible.

A colour-coded system has been applied to the york.ca/COVID19Vaccine page to help residents easily identify which clinics may have available appointments:

• Red: Appointments Fully Booked
• Orange: Limited Availability 
• Green: Now Booking 

York Region Public Health is working with our local health care partners to provide COVID-19 vaccines for eligible priority group at various locations across York Region. Eligibility, clinic dates and times vary for each location. Please visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine for specific clinic details.

Eligible individuals can book their first COVID-19 vaccination appointment online; telephone support is available and is listed under the applicable clinic.

Given the expected high volume of web activity and telephone support, wait times may be longer than usual and services disruptions on york.ca may occur. Please continue to be patient. 

As a result of no-shows and/or cancelled appointments, additional vaccine supply may become available and a small number of appointments may appear through the online booking systems. Residents are encouraged to check back often for appointments that may become available. 

York Region will continue to publicly communicate new online booking opportunities through multiple communication channels, including york.ca, social media and our media and community partners.

To ensure all appointments are available to those who are eligible, we encourage residents to book only one appointment per person and cancel any appointments they do not intend to use.

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices