THUNDER BAY -- Starting on Monday, children aged 12 to 17 will be eligible for a second COVID-19 vaccination shot.
The province on Friday announced it was opening up appointments to the youngest age group permitted to receive a dose, as a way to stave off the highly contagious Delta variant and support a safe return to school in September.
Appointment bookings will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, for second-dose Pfizer shots, which can be booked through the provincial booking system, through public health units that book their own appointments or at participating pharmacies.
“As the province enters Step Two of our Roadmap, all eligible Ontarians have the opportunity for a two-dose summer,” said Minister of Health Christine Elliott.
“Vaccines are the best defence against COVID-19 and variants, and I encourage everyone to get their first and second shots as soon as possible.”
According to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, as of last Saturday 60.8 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds living in the district have had a single shot, while 8.5 per cent have had both shots.
Province-wide, 77 per cent of adults have had one shot and 42 per cent are fully immunized, well above the threshold needed to enter Step three of the provincial reopening plan, which was set at 75 per cent of adults with one dose and 25 per cent with two doses. The province has said it will wait the full three weeks between stages, meaning Step 3 is unlikely to occur before July 21.
