COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to extend to grocery store, transit workers on Tuesday

The province is expanding the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 vaccine during the week of May 10.

Those 40 and older, individuals with at-risk health conditions like dementia, liver disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases will all become eligible.

The second group of employees who cannot work from home, like grocery store workers, OC Transpo employees, and veterinary teams will also be able to book their shot.

The Ontario government announced Monday morning that certain individuals with at-risk conditions and Group 2 essential workers can book their appointment Tuesday, May 11 at 8 a.m. through the provincial COVID-19 vaccine booking site or by calling 1-833-943-3900. 

Those 40 and older can book their vaccination appointment through the Ontario booking system on Thursday at 8 a.m. 

Eligible at-risk groups as of May 11, 2021:

• Immune deficiencies and autoimmune disorders
• Stroke and cerebrovascular disease
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• All other cancers
• Respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy
• Spleen problems, such as asplenia
• Heart disease
• Hypertension with end organ damage
• Diagnosed mental disorder
• Substance use disorders
• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemia
• Immunocompromising health conditions
• Other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community

The province explains that health care practitioners will use their best medical judgement to vaccinate patients with health conditions that may put them at similar or greater risk, but are not listed above. 

Eligible employees who cannot work from home (Group 2):

• Essential and critical retail workers (including grocery, foodbank, pharmacy, ServiceOntario, ServiceCanada, Passport Canada, wholesalers, and general goods, restaurant, LCBO workers)
• Workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID-19covid 19 response, construction (including infrastructure), and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at heightened risk for COVID-19covid 19 outbreaks and spread
• Social workers and social services staff who provide in-person client services (including youth justice workers, Ontario Works, and Ontario Disability Support Program case workers)
• Courts and justice system workers (including probation and parole workers)
• Transportation, warehousing, and distribution workers (including public transit workers, truck drivers supporting essential services, marine and rail cargo, and maintenance, highway maintenance)
• Electricity (including system operations, generation, transmission, distribution, and storage workers)
• Communications infrastructure workers (including cellular, satellite, landline, Internet, public safety radio)
• Water and wastewater management workers
• Financial services workers (bank branch staff)
• Veterinarians and veterinary teams
• Waste management workers
• Oil and petroleum workers (including petroleum refineries, crude oil and petroleum storage, transmission and distribution, retail sale of fuel)
• Natural gas and propane gas workers (including compression, storage, transmission and distribution of natural gas and propane)
• Mineworkers (including those needed to ensure the continued operation of active mines)
• Uranium processing workers (those working in the refining and conversion of uranium and fabrication of fuel for nuclear power plants)

These groups will be directed to book their COVID-19 vaccination through the provincial website.