COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration opens for first group of essential workers

August 01, 2025

Waterloo Region – Today, essential workers from some sectors are eligible to pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine in Waterloo Region. The Province has identified which sectors fall within the first group of essential workers who cannot work from home.

The essential workers who are now eligible to pre-register for the vaccine are listed below:

  • Elementary and secondary school workers, including educators, custodial, school bus drivers and administrative staff
  • Workers responding to critical events, including police, fire, special constables, children’s aid society workers, emergency management and critical infrastructure restoration workers
  • Enforcement, inspection and compliance roles, including by-law enforcement, building inspectors, food inspectors, animal welfare inspectors, border inspection officers, labour inspectors and WSIB field workers
  • Individuals working in child care, including all licensees, employees and students on educational placements who interact directly with children in licensed child care centres and in authorized recreation and skill-building programs, licensed home child care and in-home service providers, employees of home child care agencies and students on education placement
  • Foster care agenda workers, including customary care providers
  • Food manufacturing and distribution workers
  • Agriculture and farm workers
  • Funeral, crematorium and cemetery workers

Members of the public who work in these sectors are strongly encouraged to pre-register for the vaccine now, and when they receive notification to book an appointment, to do so right away.

The fastest way to pre-register for the vaccine is on the Region of Waterloo website: COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-registration.

Anyone who needs help to pre-register online is encouraged to reach out to a family member or friend for help. The quickest way to get an appointment is to provide an email or text (mobile phone number) when pre-registering for the vaccine. It may take up to 4-6 weeks to be contacted for an appointment.

Adults who are 40+, or are turning 40 in 2021, can also receive the AstraZeneca at some primary care offices and select pharmacies across Waterloo Region. Appointments are required. For more information about where to book an appointment to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, visit these websites:

-30-