Keen to vaccinate, York Region residents set record

More than 75-per-cent of adult population has received 1st shots

Yorkregion.com
June 8, 2021
Kim Zarzour

A record-setting 17,500 people logged in to York Region’s booking website at 8 a.m. this morning, eager to schedule their vaccine appointments.

Within three hours, all time slots available through Public Health-led clinics were fully booked. This does not include appointments through hospital-led clinics.

The region opened about 31,000 appointments today for second-dose bookings.

Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in York are eligible to book their first shots; anyone who received first doses on or before Apr. 18 and residents 70 years of age and older can book second shots.

Previously booked second-dose appointments will continue to be honoured and will not be cancelled unless a new and earlier appointment is confirmed.

Patrick Casey, the region’s director of corporate communications, said the region continues to make excellent progress in the rollout of second doses, with 75.5 per cent of all adults having received at least one dose.

More than 73 per cent of York Region’s eligible residents (age 12+) have received at least one dose.

“This is a critical point where we must continue to push forward on second doses to ensure the variants do not have an opportunity to take hold our the community,” said Dr. Karim Kurji, medical officer of health.

Additional appointments will be released throughout the week.