People 60 and up can now get COVID-19 vaccinations in Hamilton
Anyone born in or before 1961 can set up an appointment for their shot
Hamiltonians who are 60 and older can now sign up to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
A media release from the city states that anyone born in or before 1961 can set up an appointment for their shot through the province's online booking portal.
The city says it's continuing to vaccinate people who fall under phase one of the province's vaccine rollout.
As of Tuesday morning, 111,578 people — roughly 17 per cent of eligible residents — have received their shot, according to the release.
The change comes after a long weekend where hundreds of vaccination appointments at the FirstOntario Centre went unfilled, as first reported by CHCH News.
The provincial government moved "as soon as we learned that people were not actually taking those appointments," said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, during a media briefing Tuesday afternoon.
"It does not mean that Hamilton has completed vaccinated their over 70s. It means that more people have to access those sites"
More pharmacies will start giving shots: Skelly
Concerns have also been raised by local elected officials about the lack of pharmacies in the lower city taking part in the province's COVID-19 vaccine rollout at pharmacies.
A joint letter signed by councillors, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath and Hamilton Centre MP Matthew Green said the move was counter to guidance from public health.
"This exclusion is incomprehensible and irresponsible given the risks in lower and inner-city Hamilton," it read.
Together with federal and municipal representatives, I’m concerned and outraged that people throughout lower city <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HamOnt?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HamOnt</a> were left out of the vaccine pharmacy program. Essential workers and vulnerable people in our community need and deserve protection from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>. <a href="https://t.co/lM98yudjE2">https://t.co/lM98yudjE2</a>
—@AndreaHorwathFlamborough—Glanbrook MPP Donna Skelly said Tuesday that the issue was "certainly not an intentional omission" and has since been addressed.
"We should see more pharmacies receiving and being able to vaccinate within the next 24-48 hours," she said.
Skelly said even with limited pharmacies the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is currently available for people 55 and older, were a "bus ride away" for most people.
The MPP said she received her own shot at a pharmacy on the Mountain Monday morning after booking it Friday.
"I was in and out within 20 minutes. It was very easy."
Online is quickest booking option
Besides the 60-plus age requirement at city-run clinics, people seeking their vaccine must have an email address and a green health card with a photo.
A modern web browser is also needed as the booking site does not work with Internet Explorer 11 or earlier versions, according to the city.
The city says booking online is the quickest option, but appointments can also be made by phone if someone does not have access to a computer, has a red and white health card, is Indigenous or wants to set up a shot through a mobile pop-up clinic, which is an option being considered based on supply.
To book your vaccine appointment by phone, call the Public Health Services COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 905-974-9848, and hit option 7.
People who try to book an appointment but find there are none available are asked to try again later.
"Once more vaccine supply is distributed locally, more appointment spots will get added," the city said on its website.