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The online booking form is live for health care workers in the ‘highest’, ‘very high’, and ‘high’ priority settings, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on Health Care Worker Prioritization.

Prioritization of Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination

The Ministry of Health’s Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination provides guidance for the prioritization of health care workers for vaccination based on risk of exposure, patient populations served, and incidence of COVID-19 outbreaks. The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory but is strongly recommended for health care workers.

Priority Health Sectors and Workers

Health care workers have been identified as a priority population in Phase 1 of the Government of Ontario’s three-phase vaccine distribution plan. The following levels of priority have been identified by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and should be used to sub-prioritize health care workers:

  • Highest Priority – Frontline health care workers in the following sectors and settings:
    • All hospital and acute care staff in frontline roles with COVID-19 patients and/or with a high-risk of exposure to COVID-19, including those performing aerosol-generating procedures.
    • All patient-facing health care workers involved in the COVID-19 response
    • Medical First Responders
    • Community health care workers serving specialized populations
  • Very High Priority – Frontline health care workers in the following sectors and settings:
    • Acute care and other hospital settings
    • Congregate settings
    • Community care with high risk of exposure and serving specialized patient populations
    • Other health care services for Indigenous populations
    • Community care with high risk of exposure and serving the general population
    • Laboratory services
  • High Priority – Frontline health care workers in the following settings and sectors:

    • Community care with lower risk of exposure and serving special populations (health care providers in developmental services, mental health and addictions services).

    • Community care with lower risk of exposure and serving general population (Campus health, Community diagnostic imaging, Daycare/school nursing, Dietary / nutrition, Independent health facilities (e.g., Opticians/Optometry, Podiatry/Chiropody, Audiology, medical and surgical specialties, Pedorthists, Denturists, etc.), Naturopathy, Holistic care, Social work, Sexual health clinics.

    • Non-acute rehabilitation and therapy (Chiropractic, Chronic pain clinics, Kinesiology, Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Registered massage therapy, Acupuncture, Other therapy)

    • Public health (all other public health)

  • Moderate Priority – Non-Frontline health care workers (e.g. those who work remotely and do not require PPE to work).

For rationale, additional considerations, and more information, see the Ministry of Health’s guidance.

Health Care Provider Guidance Documents:

Immunization Documents:

Product Monographs:

Reporting of Adverse Events

Health care providers are required to report an adverse event following immunization. To report an adverse event to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), please complete Public Health Ontario’s Adverse Event Following Immunization Reporting Form and submit it to the WECHU by email: vaccine@wechu.org or fax: (519)-977-1711.

To learn more, visit Public Health Ontario’s Adverse Event Following Immunization Info Sheet.

Related Content: 

COVID-19
Immunization
Vaccine
coronavirus
Last modified: 
Friday, April 30, 2021 - 9:10am