Beginning Tuesday May 18 at 8 a.m., the Ontario government will extend booking eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines to adults 18 and over.
Originally, Ontarians 18 and older were scheduled to be able to book vaccines on May 24, but approximately 2.2 million doses are scheduled to arrive this week — an early delivery of the May 24 week shipment — allowing Ontario adults to book their appointments six days earlier. Ontario youth who are 17, but turning 18 in 2021, will also be eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized by Health Canada for use in youth aged 12 and over).
Ontarians can book through the provincial booking system and call centre, or directly through public health units that use their own booking system.
Although reactions to the expanded bookings are overwhelmingly positive, some are worried that the booking systems will crash due to the mass influx of millennials and Gen Zs who will attempt to book their vaccines.
Maybe give young families in their 30s at least 24h to book a vaccine. Pop-up clinics are hell for anyone with a newborn, so we’ve been waiting to book and now seems less likely we’ll get an appointment soon when you lump this giant age group together.
— David Doel (@daviddoel) May 17, 2021
As of Monday, 7,177,145 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario out of a total of 7,843,825 doses delivered for administration, meaning 91.5 per cent of doses delivered to Ontario have been administered.
The province is experiencing very positive trends in vaccine demand, which is good news for Ontario youth as summer camps will open back up this year, according to Premier Doug Ford.
Ford made the surprise announcement at a mass vaccination clinic in Mississauga on Sunday.
“The more people that can come out [and get vaccinated], the quicker we can open up. We are going to open up very, very soon. And I have to say one thing about the summer camp. July 3 is usually the time they open. They’re opening up this year because of the great work that these people are doing,” Ford said.
In the City of Toronto alone, approximately 100,391 people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (having received both required doses). The vaccination clinic at the Thorncliffe Park Community Hub at East York Town Centre reached a milestone on Sunday — administering more than 10,000 doses in less than 24 hours.
Milestone achieved! 10,000 vaccines in arms today (& counting!) We did it, #Toronto! Together we marked a #Canadian first – the most #COVID19Vaccines delivered within less than 24 hours in one clinic location. So proud of #TeamVaccine! Read more: https://t.co/azRSjN7YjC pic.twitter.com/7LQFtXHmrG
— MGH / TEHN (@MGHToronto) May 17, 2021
But even with vaccine demand on the rise, the city of Toronto cancelled every major summer event to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and provide predictability to event organizers.
On Monday, Ontario reported 2,170 new COVID-19 cases — lower than the 2,199 new infections reported on Sunday, 2,584 cases reported Saturday, and 2,362 cases reported on Friday. From Monday’s new cases, 566 were reported in Toronto, 556 in Peel, 215 in York Region, 120 in Durham, and 101 in Hamilton. Four more deaths and 2,953 resolved cases were also reported.
Monday’s numbers mark the eighth day in a row where cases are below 3,000.
Click here for more COVID-19 Ontario updates.
