Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine booking portal opens for residents 40+

Ontario residents aged 40 and older who don’t live in a hotspot area will become eligible to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments at mass immunizations clinics starting Thursday.

That age cohort can begin booking through the province’s online booking portal as of 8 a.m.

Earlier this week, people with at-risk health conditions and Group Two of people who cannot work from home became eligible to book an appointment via the portal.

The province said more than 50 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over have now received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and it expects to have 65 per cent of adults get their first dose by May.

On Wednesday, the province said it is working on a plan to begin vaccinating youth between the ages of 12 and 17 starting in June. As more vaccine shipments arrive, officials anticipate around 65 per cent of Ontarians aged 18-plus will receive their first dose ahead of June.

This all comes the same week Ontario health officials announced they will be no longer administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a first dose option, due to increased concerns of the vaccine’s link to blood clots.

Over the last few days, there have been increased rates of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) from 0.9 per 100,000 doses to 1.7 per 100,000 doses. That means about 1 in 60,000 people could be affected by the rare, but at times deadly, side effect.