Durham Region Health Department yesterday advised residents to note the phone number for the Call Centre Booking Line to access the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, and the McKinney Centre clinics has changed from 1-800-841-2729 to 1-888-444-5113.
And, despite the opening of provincial vaccination bookings, Durham health advised residents to continue using the local Covid-19 vaccination booking systems for appointments at local vaccination clinics.
Appointments for clinics located in Clarington, Pickering and Whitby can be booked at www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment or through the Call Centre Booking Line at 1-888-444-5113. To book appointments at the Durham College/Ontario Tech University Campus Ice Centre clinic visit covidvaccine.lh.ca or call 905-721-4828.
“Although the province has launched a provincial Covid-19 online vaccination booking portal, area residents do not need to use the provincial system to access local clinics. Area residents who access the provincial portal to book appointments will be redirected to the Durham Region appointment booking systems for appointments to be booked for local clinics,” said a region statement.
Residents are also urged not to access the local appointment booking systems unless they are included in the current groups eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccine; presently, seniors 80 and older, or who are turning 80 this year, are eligible to book appointments. With both the local online portals and phone lines experiencing very high user and call volumes, it is important that the booking systems remain available to ensure that eligible seniors can book appointments to receive their vaccine.
Local clinics now open in Durham Region are located at:
- Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, 2440 Durham Regional Hwy. 2, Bowmanville
- Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex,1867 Valley Farm Road, Pickering
- Durham College/Ontario Tech University Campus Ice Centre, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa; and,
- McKinney Centre, 222 McKinney Drive, Whitby. All clinics are open from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 pm
Although additional clinics were scheduled to open in other area municipalities, the Health Department received confirmation from the province for vaccine supply up to March 28 which indicates there is insufficient vaccine supply to open other clinics as planned. Therefore, the opening of the Ajax Audley Centre clinic site, as well as the north Durham clinics sites in Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock, will be delayed. While the Health Department has been told by the province that vaccine supply is expected to increase, the opening of additional local clinics is dependent upon vaccine delivery dates which have not yet been confirmed by the province.
For a listing of current and upcoming community-wide vaccination clinics, as well as more information on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for Durham Region, visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines.