Region launches online COVID vaccine sign-up
Priority groups in Phase 1 of vaccination rollout plan can now register for appointment
WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Region launched its system to register for COVID-19 vaccine appointments for high-priority groups eligible in the first phase.
“This is live now and will be of great assistance in terms of us now planning our full rollout for the vaccine,” said Waterloo Regional Police Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton, who is heading the region’s vaccine distribution task force.
“It’s all those that are in our Phase 1 priority populations who now can preregister for their vaccines, including our adults that are 80 and older.”
Hilton announced the system’s launch at the board of health meeting on Wednesday, the same day the province said its site and call centre would go live on March 15. It’s hoped the two systems will work together when they’re both running, she said.
Along with the online system at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/ vaccinePreReg, people can call the region’s central number at 519-575-4400.
“The pre-registration system really is just putting somebody on a list, so it really is hopefully
alleviating some of that angst that we’ve been hearing around people being concerned that they’re going to be missed,” Hilton said. “It doesn’t provide a date in which you will receive your vaccine.”
Registration means people will be contacted for a vaccine appointment, which are for as early as this week and will continue based on vaccine availability.
Groups currently eligible to register: adult recipients of chronic home health care; people 80 years of age and older; essential caregivers in long-term care or retirement homes; health-care workers; Indigenous adults; staff, residents and essential caregivers in senior’s congregate settings; and staff in long-termcare or retirement homes.
The registration will ask for further information such as access or mobility concerns, and will help guide officials in planning clinics for the remaining people in Phase 1.
“It’s just allowing us to be able to assess the need of the individual and what’s the best clinical type for that vaccine,” Hiltonexplained.
Hilton encouraged everyone who is eligible to register because it allows for more efficient planning of appointments, as well as the opportunity for people who are willing to come to a clinic quickly — within 15 to 45 minutes — when there’s an opening from a cancelled or missed appointment.
A total of 59 COVID-19 variants have now been identified in various settings across the region, including workplaces, nursing homes and a school.
“Variant cases have been identified in connection with a variety of settings,” said med- ical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang.
That includes the first school outbreak connected to a variant case reported on Wednesday, and Wang said it’s expected variants will become predominant by March.
“This underscores the imperative for Waterloo Region residents to continue practising with utmost vigilance the recommended public-health measures,” Wang said.
Worryingly, Wang said there has been a recent rise in gatherings with friends and family outside of immediate households being reported during health department case and contact tracing.
The region’s weekly incidence rate is at about 50 cases per 100,000, and generally COVID-19 rates have plateaued after improvements seen in late January and early February.
“Our indicators are stable but are no longer improving week over week,” Wang said.
Another 30 COVID-19 cases were added to the region’s total in the Wednesday update by public health to reach 10,468.
Deaths remained at 222.
Active cases dropped by 22 to 316. Hospitalizations decreased by five to 26, including five requiring intensive care. Outbreaks went down by one to 22. Variants of concern are now included on the region’s COVID-19 dashboard, including confirmed and cases that screened positive.
A total of 29,342 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered by Tuesday. The number of people who have been fully vaccinated is 13,108, which is 2.23 per cent of the population.