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

Waterloo Region – People who work in sectors that fall within a second group of essential workers who cannot work from home are now eligible to pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine in Waterloo Region. The Province has identified two groups of essential workers who cannot work from home; the first group has already been invited to pre-register for the vaccine.

The following second group of essential workers can pre-register for the vaccine if they cannot work from home:

  • 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 and LCBO workers
  • Workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID-19 response, construction including infrastructure, and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at heightened risk for COVID-19 outbreaks and spread
  • Social workers and other social services staff providing in-person client services, including youth justice workers, OntarioWorks and Ontario Disability Support Program case workers
  • Courts and justice system workers, including probation and parole workers
  • Transportation, warehousing and distribution workers, including public transit workers, truck drivers supporting essential services, marine and rail cargo and maintenance, and highway maintenance
  • Electricity, including workers employed in systems operations, generation, transmission, distribution and storage
  • Communications infrastructure workers, including cellular, satellite, landline, internet and public safety radio
  • Water and wastewater management workers
  • Financial services workers (bank branch staff)
  • Veterinarians and veterinary teams
  • Waste management workers
  • Oil and petroleum workers, including those working in petroleum refineries; those involved in the storage, transmission and distribution of crude oil and petroleum products; and those needed for the retail sale of fuel
  • Natural gas and propane gas workers, including those working in the compression, storage, transmission and distribution of natural gas and propane
  • Mine workers, including those needed to ensure the continued operation of active mines
  • Uranium processing workers (those working in the refining and conversion of uranium, and fabrication of fuel for nuclear power plants

Members of the public who have been identified as essential workers who cannot work from home 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. It may take 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 at primary care offices. Most pharmacies book appointments and some allow walk-ins so you should check before you go. For more information about where to book an appointment to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, visit these websites:

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