Youth 12-plus eligible to book vaccine appointment as of Sunday

The province says it’s ahead of schedule and will open up vaccine appointments to youth residents aged 12-and-up starting this Sunday.

As of 8:00 a.m., appointments can be booked through the provincial booking system and call centre, as well as at select pharmacies.

This age group will receive the Pfizer vaccine and teenagers must be 12 at the time of the booking.

The Pfizer shot is currently the only treatment that has been authorized by Health Canada for use in individuals aged 12 and over.

The Ford government is encouraging eligible family members who have not received a vaccine to attend local clinics to get youth and their families vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Last week, select public health units began providing vaccines to those aged 12 and over in pop-up and mobile clinics, as well as for walk-in appointments where the Pfizer vaccine is available.

The province had been developing a plan to vaccinate youth since the start of May.

“We want to make sure that our young people are protected from COVID as well,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said on May 5.

“We’ve already been in conversations, discussions with the Minister of Education, to make sure that we can start as soon as possible.”

At the time, the Health Minister said the plan could see children aged 12 and older offered their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in schools, with a second dose given before the new school year begins in September.

Quebec announced Thursday that it will open its mass vaccination campaign to youth between the ages of 12 and 17 starting next week.