COVID-19 vaccine clinics for Hamilton public schools start this weekend

Both of Hamilton’s public school boards will kick off their COVID-19 vaccine clinics on Saturday, according to the city.

The first with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is set for Orchard Park Secondary in Stoney Creek and the first Catholic board (HWCDSB) clinic will be at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School on the Mountain.

Run times for both will be 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“These clinics are available to HWCDSB and HWDSB students, families and staff in each school community, plus eligible students from elementary feeder schools,” Hamilton public health said in a release.

“Individuals born in 2009 and earlier who are eligible to receive a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can walk-in to any of the clinics.”

The program is in keeping with the Ford government’s “last mile” vaccination strategy, mandating schools to offer clinics in hopes of proactively reducing cases heading to a fall in-person return for many.

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In all, there are 20 clinics with 15 at HWDSB facilities and five Catholic locations. The last is set for Waterdown District High School on Sept. 1.

According to a spokesperson from Hamilton public health, anyone aged 12 to 17 are not required to provide parental consent to get a COVID-19 shot.

Vaccines are provided if informed consent is received from the person to be vaccinated, as long as they have the capacity to make the decision.

So far only a pair of Hamilton’s post secondary schools — McMaster University and Mohawk College — have implemented a mandatory vaccination initiative for anyone returning to campus this fall.

HWDSB chair Dawn Danko expects to get more clarity on any vaccine mandates and potential rules around exemptions from the province soon.

She told Global News it might be similar to policy at the two post-secondary schools will have.

“I would expect, just like we have for our students who are required to report vaccinations to attend, we will have a process for them to report some reasonable specific exemptions as well to public health,” Danko said.

As of Thursday, 70.2 per cent of Hamilton’s eligible population 12-plus have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, just under 57 per cent of those aged 12 to 17 have been fully vaccinated.

Youth under 19 represent 24.31 per cent of Hamilton’s 362 active COVID cases as Aug.19.

Here’s a list of the 20 scheduled HWDSB and HWCDSB schools clinics as of Aug. 19: