Ontario COVID-19 vaccines expand to people 75 and older, 60 and older to begin at pharmacies with AstraZeneca
Ontario is expanding its booking system to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine to people who are 75 and older across the province, effective Monday, March 22.
"The progress we are making on our Vaccine Distribution Plan demonstrates what can be done when we unleash the full potential of Team Ontario," a statement from Ontario Premier Doug Ford reads.
"Thanks to the efforts of an army of frontline health care heroes and volunteers, we are getting needles in arms even faster than we had imagined. All we need now is a steady and reliable supply of vaccines from the Federal government to ensure anyone who wants one, gets one as soon as possible so we can all stay safe."
Also beginning on March 22, following guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), participating pharmacies and primary care settings will offer appointments to individuals aged 60 and over with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The provincial government has confirmed that more than 50 per cent of Ontarians over the age of 80 have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Over 1.4 million doses have been administered in the province.
How do I make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario?
For anyone over 75 and older, beginning on Monday, they can go to the provincial COVID-19 vaccine booking site, enter their eligibility group and postal code, which will prompt them to make an appointment. Appointments can also be made over the phone by calling the vaccine information line at 1-888-999-6488.
Individuals who are aged 60 and over will be able to make an appointment directly with the pharmacies to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. The provincial government expects to expand this program to another 350 pharmacies in the next two weeks, bringing the total to about 700 locations.
The full list of participating pharmacies in the province, organized by municipality, including the online and phone booking information can be found here.
To receive the AstraZeneca vaccine at primary care settings, appointments are not being taken by request. Primary care providers will reach out to eligible Ontarians over the age of 60 directly.
