Halton Expands Vaccine roll-out appointments to Indigenous Adults 18+

By: Laura Steiner

Indigenous adults 18 years of age and older will be able to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments beginning Friday April 9, 2021 at a Halton Region mass vaccination clinics.  This includes all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations living in the region.

“Our dedicated team of Region staff and hospital partners continue to work hard to make booking appointments and getting vaccinated as quickly possible.  Getting your vaccination is just one tool to spot the spread of COVID-19 and I continue to urge all residents, even those who are vaccinated, to take all public health measures seriously,” Halton Region Chair Gary Carr said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford officially placed the province under a stay-at-home order, and declared a state of emergency yesterday in response to a weekend of increasing case numbers, and modelling indicating that variants have begun to account for a majority of cases.

The Region has been engaging with Indigenous communities including the Mississaguas of the Credit First Nation, the Credit River Métis Council, Six Nations of the Grand First Nations, Tungasuvvingat Inuit, as well as Indigenous Affairs Ontario, Urban Indigenous Organizations servicing the GTHA and Indigenous healthcare professionals.

Appointments can be booked through the Region’s website.  Here is a full list of people in Halton eligible for their vaccinations:

• All Halton residents 60 and older (born in 1961 or earlier);
• Indigenous Adults (including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations) living in Halton, who are 18 years of age or older (must have had their 18th birthday on or before the date of their first dose appointment) – starting April 9;
• All staff and essential caregivers from long-term care or retirement homes in Halton who have not received their first dose;
• health care workers identified as highest priority, very high priority and high priority (providing direct, non-virtual care at least once a week) who live OR work in Halton; and
• Adults receiving chronic home care through a Local Health Integration Network or a home care agency.