COVID-19 Vaccine Info for Waterloo Region

Vaccine Eligibility, Pre-registration and more

 

As the Covid-19 vaccine trickles into Canada, Waterloo Region is making it easy for residents to get their shots.

Here’s how it works:

1. How to get vaccinated in Waterloo Region

~ You must belong to a priority group to be eligible (a detailed list can be found on the Region of Waterloo website at waterlooregion.ca)

~ You must pre-register with the Region and then wait to be contacted for an appointment

~ There are no appointments for the general public and walk-ins are not accepted

2. How to Pre-register

~ It is recommended that you pre-register online at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccineprereg

~ If you are eligible and don’t have online access, call 519-575-4400 to talk with a live person 24-7 in over 200 languages (deaf and hearing impaired call 519-575-4608)

3. Who is eligible to pre-register?

~ A detailed list can be found at regionofwaterloo.ca, but generally, eligible groups include adults 70 and older (born in 1951 or earlier), adults with high-risk medical conditions and one essential caregiver, adults receiving chronic home-health care, essential caregivers in long-term-care or retirement homes or senior’s congregate settings, health-care workers, Indigenous adults, staff and residents in senior’s congregant settings and staff in long-term-care or retirement homes.

~ At this time, adults under 70 and other essential workers are not eligible to preregister.

4. Where can you get your shot once you are contacted?

~ Wellesley clinic at 3710 Nafziger Drive, Unit A, Wellesley

~ The Boardwalk clinic at 435 The Boardwalk in Waterloo, Medical Centre 2

~ Langs Community Health Centre at 1145 Concession Road in Cambridge

~ Health Sciences Campus at 10 Victoria Street South in Kitchener

~ SmartCentres at 66 Pinebush Road in Cambridge (in the old Rona store)

5. What do you need to bring?

~ You will need your Ontario Health Card or other government photo ID. If you are part of a work-place priority group, bring your workplace ID as well.

 

Ready to Get Your Vaccine? Eligible Priority Groups

 

If you are a member of any of the following priority groups, you are now eligible to pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

 

Phase 1 groups eligible to pre-register:

• Adult recipients of chronic home care
• Adults 80 years of age and older, born in 1941 or earlier
• Health care workers (All categories)
• Indigenous adults (Includes individuals and Elders regardless of status or Indigenous identity and any adults 18 years of age and older, living in their immediate household.)
• Long-term care and retirement homes staff
• Long-term care and retirement homes essential caregivers
• Seniors group settings staff and residents
• Seniors group setting essential caregivers

Phase 2 groups eligible to pre-register:

• Adults 70-79 years of age, born in 1951 or earlier
• Adults 60-69 years of age, born in 1961 or earlier
• Adults with highest-risk and high-risk health conditions
  • Highest-risk health conditions:
    • Organ transplant recipients
    • Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
    • People with neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g. motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis)
    • Haematological malignancy diagnosed less than one year ago
    • Kidney disease (eGFR less than 30)
  • High-risk health conditions:
    • Obesity (Body Mass Index >40)
    • Other treatments causing immunosuppression (e.g. chemotherapy, immunity-weakening medications)
    • Intellectual or developmental disabilities (e.g. Down Syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy)
• One essential caregiver for an adult or child with a highest-risk or high-risk health condition who requires support for daily living
• Faith Leaders who are in close contact with persons and families in the following circumstances:
  • End-of-life care
  • Care of the deceased, funerals, bathing, or other ceremony with direct contact with deceased persons
  • Home visits to unwell persons
  • Pastoral care in hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, or other vulnerable settings
• Residents and frontline staff in the following high-risk settings (many of the following groups will be booked directly into mobile clinics):
  • Supportive housing
  • Developmental services, including supported independent living
  • Emergency homeless shelters
  • Other homeless populations not in shelters
  • Mental health and addictions congregate settings, including supportive housing
  • Homes for special care
  • Employer-provided housing for farm workers, including temporary foreign workers
  • Adult correctional facilities
  • Violence Against Women shelters
  • Anti-Human Trafficking residences
  • Children’s residential facilities, including group homes and foster homes
  • Indigenous healing and wellness
  • Youth justice facilities
  • Bail beds
• One essential caregiver for residents in the following high-risk congregate settings:
  • Developmental services, including supported independent living
  • Mental health and addictions congregate settings, including supportive housing
  • Homes for special care
  • Children’s residential facilities, including group homes and foster homes
  • Indigenous healing and wellness