Construction workers can register for COVID-19 vaccinations today

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Construction workers who have not already qualified for a COVID-19 vaccination can register for a shot starting today.

Group 2 Essential Workers Who Cannot Work from Home eligible to sign up for vaccinations this week include:

• Workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID19 response, construction including infrastructure, and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at heightened risk for COVID-19 outbreaks and spread.
• Essential and critical retail workers (including grocery, foodbank and non-clinical pharmacy workers, ServiceOntario workers, ServiceCanada and Passport Canada workers, wholesalers and general goods, restaurant workers, LCBO)
• Transportation, warehousing and distribution workers (including public transit workers, taxi drivers, truck drivers supporting essential services, marine and rail cargo and maintenance, highway maintenance
• Electricity (including workers employed in system operations, generation, transmission, distribution and storage)
• Communications infrastructure workers (including cellular, satellite, landline, internet, public safety radio)

Due to a predictable and increased vaccine supply, the province will expand delivery in the coming weeks to vaccinate more Ontarians faster. An anticipated schedule to expand eligibility throughout May, with individuals aged 18 and older eligible to book through the provincial booking system as early as the week of May 24.

In addition, the first employer-operated workplace clinics are operating in Peel Region. Maple Lodge Farms and Maple Leaf Foods have begun vaccinating employees in partnership with Peel Public Health and Amazon preparing to do the same. All three workplace clinics will also offer access to vaccines to the local community. Ontario will continue to work with employers who have expressed an interest in hosting workplace clinics to assess if they meet the criteria and help facilitate engagement with local public health units.

“With the increase in vaccine supplies, workplace vaccination clinics have begun this week and we are focusing our immunization efforts in areas where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.

“As we move closer to accessing a more stable supply of vaccines from the federal government, we must do all we can to save lives and reduce hospitalizations by staying home and following public health measures.”

More than 5.5 million vaccine doses have been administered across the province, with over 91 per cent of Ontario residents aged 80 and over having received at least one dose and 38.5 per cent of the population aged 18 and over having received at least one dose.