UPDATE: Three Ottawa postal codes prioritized by Ontario government for 50+ vaccine eligibility

By Victoria Williston

Three postal codes in Ottawa have been identified by the provincial government, where people aged 50 and older will soon be able to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. 

Over 100 postal codes in 13 public health units were identified by Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, Tuesday, April 6. The list of postal codes represent COVID 'hot spot' neighbourhoods in the province.

In the capital, the postal codes identified by the province start with: 

  • K1T 
  • K1V 
  • K2V 

While the province identified three local areas where residents 50 and older would be eligible for the vaccine, the city's General Manager of Emergency and Protective Services Anthony Di Monte said in an email to CityNews that Ottawa's medical officer of health has the authority to focus on priority neighbourhoods within these postal codes. 

As such, the 21 priority neighbourhoods previously identified by Ottawa Public Health (OPH) as having the highest risk of hospitalization or death will continue to be the areas of focus for the vaccination roll-out. 

The 21 neighbourhoods identified as 'high risk' in Ottawa are: 

  • Britannia Village
  • Carleton Heights – Rideauview
  • Carlington
  • Carson Grove-Carson Meadows
  • Centretown West
  • Emerald Woods
  • Greenboro East
  • Hawthorne Meadows
  • Heatherington
  • Heron Gate
  • Hunt Club East – Western Community
  • Hunt Club Park
  • Ledbury
  • Lowertown (Lowertown East)
  • Manor Park
  • Overbrook-McArthur
  • Parkwood Hills
  • Ridgemont
  • Riverview
  • Sandy Hill
  • Sawmill Creek
  • Bayshore-Belltown
  • Sheffield Glen
  • Stewart Farm
  • Vanier North
  • Vanier South 
  • Whitehaven – Queensway Terrace North

In an email to CityNews Tuesday, Ottawa Board of Health Chair and City Councillor Keith Egli said city staff are working on the announcement and should have more details Wednesday. As of now, little is known about how, or when those in the hardest-hit neighbourhoods will be rolling up their sleeves. 

For the general population, those aged 60 and older, or born in 1961 or earlier are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments for this group are done through the province's online booking system, which opens Wednesday at 8 a.m. 

The demand for the current age group is temporarily expected to exceed the supply, according to the province, so residents are asked to be patient when booking.

Ottawa Public Health says other priority groups identified under Phase Two of the vaccine roll-out, which runs from April to July 2021, are not currently eligible for the vaccine.

OPH asks these priority groups to not call the health unit as more details will be released at a later date. 

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