COVID-19 Updates

Expanded eligibility for third doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Appointments opening Dec. 13 for individuals 50+

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region Health Department will be expanding eligibility for third doses of COVID-19 vaccine, as recently announced by the province. Beginning Dec. 13 at 8 a.m. Durham Region residents 50 and older (born in 1971 or earlier) are eligible to receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible individuals can receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a minimum of 168 days after receiving their second dose. Booster doses are being...

Durham Region Health Department confirms one case of the Omicron variant

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department has received confirmation of one individual who has tested positive for the COVID-19 Omicron variant. The case is a close contact of a returning traveller from one of the identified countries in southern Africa. The Health Department is also monitoring other COVID-19 cases under investigation for the Omicron variant based on travel history and working with the province to monitor COVID-19 variants of concern including Delta and Omicron.

The Health...

Parents invited to Virtual Town Hall to discuss paediatric COVID-19 vaccine

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department is inviting area parents and caregivers of children five to 11-years old to attend a virtual town hall to discuss questions and concerns related to the paediatric COVID-19 Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine. The virtual town hall will feature discussion with a panel of local medical and health care professionals to provide parents and caregivers with an opportunity to get first-hand information on local children’s COVID-19 immunization clinics and participate...

COVID-19 vaccine clinic bookings for children five to 11-years old to open Nov. 23 in Durham Region

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department COVID-19 vaccine clinic appointment bookings for children five to 11-years old will open on November 23. Appointments can be booked at durham.ca/vaccineappointment or by calling 1-888-444-5113. Appointments will be available starting on November 25.

The paediatric COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine is authorized for children who will be turning five-years old in 2021 (born in 2016) to children who are 11-years old (born in 2010). The...

Protecting yourself from the flu is more important than ever before

Whitby, Ontario - Influenza, also known as “the flu”, season has begun, and Durham Region Health Department is reminding area residents to protect themselves and others by getting their annual influenza vaccine, known as the flu shot. The flu shot is safe and protects you from the influenza virus which causes a contagious respiratory illness. The vaccine is free and recommended for everyone six-months of age and older.

“The best way you can stop the flu is by getting the flu shot every year...