Ontario to expand Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine eligibility to people 40 and older

Starting Tuesday, anyone aged 40 and over will be able to book an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in Ontario.

Ontario had previously stuck to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s recommendation to offer the AstraZeneca shot to those 55 and over due to a slightly elevated risk of an extremely rare blood clot disorder.

Pressure to expand the eligibility had been mounting for days, as hospitalizations surged to unprecedented levels in Ontario.

On Sunday night, Health Minister Christine Elliott’s office announced plans to expand eligibility.

“Based on current supply, Ontario will begin offering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to individuals aged 40 and over at pharmacy and primary care settings across the province effective Tuesday,” spokeswoman Alexandra Hilkene said in an email.

The statement came after Elliott’s federal counterpart told a news conference that such a move was well within the provinces’ jurisdiction.

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