COVID-19 Appointments to be Scheduled Online or By Phone Only 

 NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is reminding the public that appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations can only be booked online or by phone. Individuals will not be able to book an appointment in-person at Health Unit office locations. Appointment booking opens on Monday, March 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. for individuals born in 1941 or before.  

How to book an appointment online: 

1. Have your green Ontario health card ready. 
2. Visit www.myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19Vaccineand click “Book an Appointment” to open the provincial Online Booking System. 
3. Follow the online instructions.

 How to book an appointment by phone: 

1. Have your green Ontario health card ready.
2. Dial 1-800-563-2808and choose option 5, then follow the prompts. The call centre will be open to book appointments from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. 
3. Please be patient. The Health Unit has all available staff working the phone lines in anticipation of your call. If you do not get through, call again at a later time. 

 For information on clinic locations, dates and times, please visit www.myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19Vaccine.   

NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) will not be able to book appointments beginning on March 22 for individuals 75-79 years of age. In spite of the provincial announcement, the Health Unit is still working through the phase 1 priorities. Booking of phase 2 priority vaccinations, which includes seniors aged 60-79 years of age, will begin when the majority of phase 1 vaccinations are near completion.

The Health Unit asks that individuals aged 75-79 DO NOT try to book appointments at this time as it will not result in an appointment being created and it will slow the booking process down for others.

To date, over 8,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to residents in our district, and more than 5,700 individuals aged 80 or older will be receiving their COVID-19 vaccine next week as we continue to work through phase 1.

“We are truly happy to see the interest of residents in getting their COVID-19 vaccines,” states Andrea McLellan, Director of COVID-19 Immunization Strategy at the Health Unit. “I would like to remind the public that everyone who wishes to get a COVID-19 vaccine will get one in time and patience is needed as we move through the various priority groups and phases.” The Health Unit will notify the public when it is ready to start booking those aged 75 years and up.

The Health Unit, with support of community partners, has completed vaccinations in long-term care homes. The next priorities for vaccine rollout in our district are advancing steadily, including:

• Alternate 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;
• Highest Priority health care workers, followed by Very High Priority health care workers, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization.

As higher volumes of COVID-19 vaccine shipments become available in the region, the Health Unit will move to remaining Phase 1 populations, including:

• Staff, residents and caregivers in retirement homes and other congregate care settings for seniors (e.g., assisted living);
• Health care workers in the High Priority level, and in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization;
• All Indigenous adults;
• Adult recipients of chronic home care.

Priority populations for vaccine rollout are determined based on the Ethical framework for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and vaccine availability. Our Health Unit will advise the public once we are able to start to accept bookings for individuals 75 and older.

For more information on local COVID-19 vaccine, status visit www.myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19Vaccine.