York Region expanding COVID-19 vaccines to all York Region residents 60 years of age or older and those 35 years of age and older in five high priority areas

April 19, 2021
Ontario residents 40 years of age and older can access the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through select pharmacies and primary care

Newmarket – The Regional Municipality of York is continuing to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to eligible residents as identified in Phase 2 of the Government of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan.

Effective Tuesday, April 20, 2021 beginning at 8:30 a.m., York Region residents age 60 years and older (born in 1961 and earlier) can book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination. Residents age 35 and older (born in 1986 and earlier) who live in five high priority communities (L4L, L6A, L4K, L4J and L3S postal code areas) are now also eligible.

Appointments for vaccines can be booked by visiting york.ca/COVID19Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are available to the following:

  • NEW: All York Region residents age 60+ (born in 1961 or earlier)
  • NEW: York Region residents age 35 years of age and older who live in the following identified high priority communities in York Region (City of Vaughan postal codes: L4L, L6A, L4K, L4J; City of Markham postal code: L3S)
  • Special education staff who live or work in York Region
  • Individuals (and one of their caregivers) with highest and high risk health conditions as identified in Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
  • Highest, very high and high priority health care workers as identified in the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Work Prioritization who work or live in York Region
  • Staff, essential caregivers and any residents that have not yet received a first dose in long-term care homes, retirement homes and First Nations elder care homes
  • Alternative level of care patients in hospitals who have a confirmed admission to a long-term care home, retirement home or other congregate care home for seniors
  • Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors
  • Indigenous adults and members of their households
  • Adults receiving home care services and who live in York Region (appropriate documentation will be required)
  • Faith leaders who live or work in York Region and provide end of life care, care of the deceased, care of those who are unwell or provides pastoral services in vulnerable settings

Approximately 20,000 vaccination appointments will be released for these eligible groups. York Region continues experiencing a serious reduction in vaccine supply. York Region will offer additional appointments as vaccine becomes available.

Appointments are required. Walk-in appointments are not available. Please do not visit a vaccination clinic without an appointment – you will be turned away.

The Government of Ontario announced on Sunday, April 18, 2021 they will begin to offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to individuals age 40 years old and over (born in 1981 and earlier) in pharmacies and primary care settings as of Tuesday, April 20, 2021. York Region residents age 40 years of age and older are encouraged to book vaccine appointments at select pharmacies and primary care settings in York Region or at the Soccer City vaccine clinic in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

As case numbers continue to rise around the Region and throughout the Province, residents are reminded the best vaccine is the first one offered to you. Everyone is encouraged to take whichever vaccine is available to them as soon as possible.

In accordance with the Ministry of Health’s recent recommendations, transplant patients and some cancer patients are encouraged to get their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as close to the 21 to 28-day timeframe as possible. Information plus eligibility and clinic details are available at york.ca/COVID19Vaccine

A colour-coded system has been applied to the york.ca/COVID19Vaccine page to help residents easily identify which clinics may have available appointments:

    • Red: Appointments Fully Booked
    • Orange: Limited Availability
    • Green: Now Booking

York Region Public Health is working with our local health care partners to provide COVID-19 vaccines for eligible priority group at various locations across York Region. Eligibility, clinic dates and times vary for each location. Please visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine for specific clinic details.

Eligible individuals can book their first COVID-19 vaccination appointment online; telephone support is available and is listed under the applicable clinic.

As a result of no-shows and/or cancelled appointments, additional vaccine supply may become available and a small number of appointments may appear through the online booking systems. Residents are encouraged to check back often for appointments that may become available.

York Region will continue to publicly communicate new online booking opportunities through multiple communication channels, including york.ca, social media and our media and community partners.

To ensure all appointments are available to those who are eligible, we encourage residents to book only one appointment per person and cancel any appointments they do not intend to use.

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices


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Media Contact:

Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
1-877-464-9675, ext. 71234
@email