On April 30, the city of Toronto announced that it was partnering with the FCJ Refugee Center and Access Alliance to bypass the official provincial OHIP card-number based road to receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.
Until now, it has not been possible for people without an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card or those with expired cards i.e., so called “undocumented workers” to register for the vaccination. This group among others includes hundreds of thousands of undocumented individuals, entire families who have stayed in Canada beyond the time allowed by their visas.
The city has committed itself to equal access to vaccines for its residents – all you need to do is live in the City of Toronto.
The Province of Ontario has also stated that if you do not have an Ontario OHIP card, you are still eligible for the vaccine.
Toronto City Residents, without an OHIP card, who meet the current criteria for receiving the vaccine, see details here:
www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-how-to-get-vaccinated/?accordion=vaccine-eligibility
can get help in booking a vaccination appointment at a vaccination clinic by contacting:
FCJ Refugee Center
Tel: (416) 469-9754 ext. 230 and 232, WhatsApp: (437) 217-3786, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Email: vaccine@fcjrefugeecentre.org
In person, but by appointment at 208 Oakwood Avenue
If there is a need to use an interpreter, it is possible to do so by telephone.
Access Alliance
Tel (416) 760-8677
Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesdays from 1 pm – 4:30 pm
Thursdays from 12:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Personal reservation, by appointment only, at 761 Jane Street
If there is a need to use an interpreter, there is such a possibility by telephone.
Toronto Public Health Hotline: Toronto Public Health Hotline
Tel: (416) 338-7600
Every day from 8:30 am – 8 pm
According to official information from the Toronto City Hall, additional agencies will soon begin offering these services.
As soon as it is available, the updated information will be available at: www.toronto.ca/COVID19
Toronto city residents without an OHIP card may use a different form of identification to book a Covid-19 vaccination with partnering agencies. These documents may be a driving license, passport, a registered mail, pay stub or student card. Identification documents issued by other countries, such as a passport, driver’s license, or health insurance card, may also be used, even if they have expired.
Residents can also book Covid-19 immunization visits at hospitals and clinics operated by the Ontario Health Team by visiting vaccineto.ca
As part of the city’s commitment to serving all residents, personal information collected when booking a Covid-19 immunization appointment is collected in the minimum amount required by the province’s reservation system and does not include your home address. The safety of administering the Covid-19 immunization program in Ontario requires a health record that includes the person’s full name, age, gender, and either a phone number or email. Information about a person’s health may not be used for any other purpose without the express consent of that person, except as required by law, and contained in the Health Information Protection Act: www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/04p03.
