Dear Ward 3 Residents,
Please see below latest update regarding the plans for the COVID-19 vaccine roll out from the York Region.
- Effective Monday, March 1, York Region residents age 80+, or their caregivers on their behalf of the York Region resident age 80+, can book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine.
- We are not able to book any appointments for this priority group before Monday, March 1. Pre-registration is not required. Please remain patient over the next couple of days as we finalize these booking details.
- Residents are advised NOT to phone in and risk overwhelming phone system.
- Each hospital will have a different booking system. In the beginning, it will only be Mackenzie Health through the Cortellucci Hospital in Vaughan and Southlake Hospital at the Ray Twinney Centre in Newmarket.
York Region has developed a multifaceted communication strategy developed to support three main goals:
- Increase awareness and understanding of COVID-19 vaccines
- Increase number of individuals receiving COVID-19 vaccination (goal to vaccinate 75% population)
- Dispel misinformation, myths, harmful untruths which contribute to vaccine hesitancy
Targeted messaging will be shared with these audiences via various communication tactics and activities including york.ca/COVID19Vaccine, media, social media, newspaper ads, digital toolkit for partners, fact sheets, print resources, translations and through Access York.
The roll out of vaccinations on this scale is new to all of us, and as the province has said, it will not be perfect. What is important is we get available vaccines into arms.
Please continue to be patient. We are confident information will get out to the right people at the right time.
- As vaccines become available, York Region is prepared and ready to ensure the safe and coordinated vaccination of our community from COVID-19
- Supply of vaccines will not arrive all at once, so distribution will happen in stages
- When more supplies become available, vaccines will be offered to everyone who wants one, in priority order
- Residents will be notified when they are eligible to receive the vaccine based on supply
- This information will be communicated in multiple languages through york.ca, social media, print advertising, through media and with the assistance of community partners
- Inquiries call also be made Monday to Friday during regular business hours to the Access York contact centre at 1-877-464-9675
To avoid misinformation:
- york.ca/covid19 remains the central, trusted source of truth for COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccine information; the site is continually updated as new information on vaccine distribution becomes available
- A central web page at york.ca/covid19vaccine provides updated content on the Provincial Vaccine Distribution Implementation Plan, York Region’s COVID-19 Mass Immunization Plan, Roles and Responsibilities and Frequently Ask Questions
- York Region has also launched a COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics web page which contains information about the priority groups eligible to receive vaccinations based on Ministry of Health’s guidance and information to book an appointment Note: Members of the general public cannot book a vaccine appointment at this time
As the information is changing frequently, Richmond Hill will follow the Region’s direction to ensure accuracy and consistency of messaging, and support a coordinated effort across all municipalities.
The City continues to work with our Public Health partners on the planning for a mass immunization clinic in Richmond Hill, once vaccines are available. The City is providing Richmond Green as a suitable venue to the Region, with a secondary site available if the need arises, as well as non-clinical staffing support for the immunization clinic.