COVID-19
COVID-19
Your Health for All Family Health Team recognizes that these are challenging and uncertain times. To stay informed with the developing situation across the province, we’ll keep you updated on COVID-related information on this page. For more detailed information, please visit the Government of Ontario website by clicking below.
*NEW* Health for All has launched its COVID@Home Monitoring Program!
For information on upcoming clinics in York Region, see our Vaccine Clinics page.
Resources
Feeling confused about COVID?
The University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Ontario College of Family Physicians have put together some great resources to answer questions about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant here. They also have a new resource answering questions about COVID vaccine boosters here.
Back to School
Not sure what to look for while performing daily assessments prior to sending your child to school or child care? The Ministry of Health Ontario has developed a COVID-19 Screening Tool that you can use to assist in the decision making process.
To support the return of in-school learning, updated guidelines, resources and screening information are available for parents and students at york.ca/safeatschool.
More questions about child vaccinations? Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Pakes, answers parents’ top questions in Part 1 and Part 2 of this helpful new video series.
COVID-19 Attestation Package
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) has created a COVID-19 Attestation Package that you can use instead of a doctor’s note for your child to return to school or child-care as well as for adults returning to work after a diagnosis of COVID-19. *It is not to be used for health care workers, individuals who are severely immunocompromised or those who have received care for COVID-19 in a hospital ICU.
Support Services
If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please click here for support services available in York Region including pop-up testing, transportation, housing, food delivery and more.
Call Auntie is an Indigenous vaccine support service for First Nations, Inuit and Métis living in the Tkaronto area: 437-703-8703. Visit the website for more information on Indigenous led vaccine clinic hours and locations: https://www.tkarontovaccines.com/
Do you know an isolated, low-income senior or person living with a physical disability, without family or community support, who needs help getting essentials during the current COVID-19 pandemic? The Ontario Community Support program helps those in need get meals, groceries, medicine, and other essentials delivered through Meals on Wheels so that they can safely isolate at home. Service is available through March 2022. To identify a local community provider and request service, visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca or dial 211 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll free). TTY service is also available at 1-888-340-1001.
Call 647-846-2233 to access the COVID-19 Helpline for South Asians. The Helpline provides information about health & safety during COVID-19, details on the reopening process, government benefits, and support services available to communities in English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bangla and Punjabi. Click here for more information.
Information on COVID Vaccines for Children
ParentHomework.ca is a great website with helpful information about COVID-19 vaccines and children. Created by the Children’s Health Coalition (a group of children’s health organizations, including SickKids), the website answers questions often asked by parents, gives information on how to book vaccine appointments for children, and also allows parents to book a telephone appointment with a registered nurse to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine. View the website here: ParentHomework.ca
The Province of Ontario has put together an easy-to-follow fact sheet answering common questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children. For additional information, or to view the fact sheet in other languages, visit the page “COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth” here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-vaccines-children-and-youth.
Here’s the fact sheet in English:
Provincial Guidance on Self-Isolation
Public Health Ontario has documents with guidance for adults who are self-isolating, as well as for those looking after kids who need to isolate.
- “How to Self-Isolate” can be viewed here.
- “How to Care for a Child Who Needs to Self-Isolate” can be viewed here.
Multilingual COVID Resources
Need access to reliable COVID information in languages other than English?
Public Health Ontario (PHO) has put together fact sheets on numerous COVID-related topics in many of the languages represented in our community! Follow the link below and select the language in which you’d like to view PHO’s resources:
COVID-19 Vaccines
and Treatments
Vaccines for Young Children
Health Canada has now approved the Moderna vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years.
Have questions?
Here are a few parent-friendly resources:
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Aged 6 Months to Under 5 Years (Ontario College of Family Physicians)
- What are the Reasons to Vaccinate My Young Child Against COVID-19? (University of Waterloo)
- Timing of COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children (University of Waterloo)
- COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Under 5: Q&A (Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario)
Still have questions? Here’s how to get answers:
- Speak with your child’s healthcare provider
- Speak with a Health Specialist at the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (1-833-943-3900) or,
- Book a confidential phone appointment with a Registered Nurse at SickKids Hospital via the COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service website
Ready to Book a Vaccine for Your Child?* Appointments are available through:
- the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal and the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (1-833-943-3900)
- Directly through your local Public Health Unit’s booking system
- Through participating primary care providers* and paediatricians or,
- Through participating pharmacies and Indigenous-led vaccine clinics
*Please Note: Health for All is not offering COVID-19 vaccines at this time for children or adults.
Fourth Doses
In Ontario, as of July 14, all individuals aged 18+ are eligible for a fourth dose (i.e. second booster) of a COVID-19 vaccine if their previous booster was at least five months (140 days) earlier.
In York Region, the following groups may receive a fourth dose sooner, if it’s been at least three months (84 days) since their third dose:
- Immunocompromised individuals aged 18+
- Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, elder care lodges and other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services to older adults
For more information and to book an appointment, please visit the links:
York Region Public Health:
https://www.york.ca/health/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-clinics
Toronto Public Health:
https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-doses/
Paxlovid Antiviral Treatment
Paxlovid antiviral treatment is available to those at higher risk of serious illness due to COVID-19 (e.g. those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, living with diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, etc.)
For Ontario Health’s Patient Fact Sheet on eligibility requirements for Paxlovid, click here.
You can also complete the Government of Ontario’s screener here to see if you’re at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness and might benefit from taking Paxlovid.
I’m pregnant. Should I get the vaccine?
Pregnant individuals are now eligible to receive the vaccine. If you have questions about getting the vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your health care provider.
You can also check out COVID resources for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals from credible sources including:
- The “Confused About COVID” website by the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and their resource for pregnant individuals
- The website for the Provincial Council on Maternal and Child Health
- BORN Ontario (Better Outcomes Registry & Network)’s multilingual collection of videos about pregnancy and the vaccine: https://vimeo.com/showcase/covid19pregnancy
How do I book my vaccination?
York Region residents aged 5+ can book their vaccination appointments here: https://buff.ly/2NABl8g
Durham residents 5+ can book their vaccinations at: durham.ca/VaccineAppointment
Toronto residents 5+ can book their vaccination appointments here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/
Residents who are not able or not comfortable booking an online appointment are encouraged to seek out a support person (caregiver, family member or friend) who can assist in booking this appointment on their behalf, or to call:
1-877-464-9675 for Aainiin Community Centre (Markham), Maple Community Centre (Vaughan), Georgina Ice Palace, Richmond Green Sports Centre (Richmond Hill), and Canada’s Wonderland
1-888-999-6488 for Cornell Community Centre (Markham)
1-844-301-8080 for Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital or Ray Twinney Recreation Complex (Newmarket)
1-888-444-5113 for Durham Region.
Why can’t I receive my vaccine from my family doctor?
Vaccinations are happening mostly in mass vaccination clinics and mobile sites. If Health for All is provided with doses of a vaccine, patients will be contacted to book an appointment.
I have more questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, please read the following resource provided by the Ontario College of Family Physicians. It contains common questions and answers regarding the vaccine including medication use and spousal vaccinations: OCFP Frequently Asked Questions.
Assessment Centres
Do you think you have COVID-19 symptoms?
Use the Ontario Ministry of Health’s self-assessment to help determine how to seek care.
Do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
There are nearby COVID-19 assessment centres at the following locations.
Markham Stouffville Hospital
Walk-in’s will not be accepted. You must meet the criteria for testing and call 289-378-2419 for same day appointment only. For more information, please visit the Markham Stouffville Hospital COVID-19 page.
Durham – Lakeridge Health (Multiple sites)
Lakeridge Health will not be testing asymptomatic patients. You must fill out the online form in order to get an appointment. If you do not have a computer or WiFi, contact DRHD for assistance at 1-800-841-2729. Your appointment will be booked at one of the COVID-19 Assessment Centres listed in Durham Region. For more information, please visit the Lakeridge Health COVID-19 page.
Mackenzie Health
Walk-in’s will not be accepted and you must meet the criteria for testing. To schedule an appointment, call 905-883-1212 ext 2004. For more information, please visit the Mackenzie Health COVID-19 page.
Scarborough Health Network
Walk-in’s will not be accepted at any of the Scarborough Health Network Hospitals (Birchmount, Centenary or General). If you meet the criteria for testing, you must complete their online form or call 416-495-2601 for assistance in booking an appointment. For more information, please visit the Scarborough Health Network page.
Community Based Testing Sites- Peel
If you meet the criteria for testing, you may book an appointment at any of these new community based COVID-19 testing sites.