Hamilton educators in high-risk areas will get vaccine but not before Peel, Toronto: province

Education workers in high-risk Hamilton and Burlington neighbourhoods will be among the prioritized vaccine groups according to the provincial government — but only after staff at schools in high risk Toronto and Peel neighbourhoods get it first during spring break.

Meanwhile, all special education workers who provide direct daily support to students across Ontario, including Hamilton and Burlington, will also be eligible for vaccine as of the April break.

The Ford government released the details after declaring its third provincewide state of emergency and second stay-at-home order.

Hamilton educators in high-risk neighbourhoods will be prioritized, the province says, along with York, Ottawa, Halton and Durham as the supply allows. It's unclear how long these areas will have to wait and which neighbourhoods will get doses first.

The news comes as local schools are seeing a record number of COVID-19 infections and as Hamilton's medical officer of health said families should prepare to be in remote learning after the April break.

Local school boards, unions and politicians pushed hard for educators to get vaccines after learning Niagara Health is vaccinating education workers there.

Dawn Danko, public school board chair, said vaccinating educators will help keep schools open and make in-person learning safer.