April 8^th

The provincial government of Ontario announced Wednesday that 36,000 special-education workers at Ontario schools will be eligible to get vaccines starting next week. Those staff are at higher risk because they work with some children who can’t tolerate masks, spit or bite.

Educators in high-risk neighbourhoods in Toronto and Peel can also be vaccinated starting next week, Education Minister Lecce said. As more vaccines become available the program will be expanded to educators in other hot spots including Halton, Hamilton, York, Durham and Ottawa, Lecce said.

(The province also announced that it will set up pop-up clinics and mobile teams to vaccinate all people over age 18 in hot spot neighbourhoods of Toronto and Peel.) 

Educators are currently scheduled for vaccines in June, although some may qualify earlier based on their age, health conditions or whether they live or work in high-risk neighbourhoods.