York Region on track to open vaccination eligibility to 18+ years of age by week of May 24

Yorkregion.com
May 17, 2021

Booking begins for residents 30 years of age and older May 17

York Region Public Health is on track to open vaccination eligibility to all residents 18 years of age and older by the week of May 24.

Based on current vaccine supply, the agency is planning to move ahead with appointments for residents 30 years of age and older the week of May 17.

All previous prioritized groups are still eligible as well.

The timelines are in alignment with the province’s COVID-19 vaccination roll out but are subject to change depending on vaccine availability, said the region’s director of communications Patrick Casey.

Should the region receive additional vaccine supply, every effort will be made to further advance vaccinations and open eligibility sooner, Casey added.

As of May 14, 569,813 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to York Region residents.

That includes doses administered to 92.3 per cent of the region’s over-80 age bracket.

The highest number of doses -- 62,875 -- have been given to people aged 55 to 59.

Almost 25 per cent of the region’s 18-19 age bracket has also received one dose of the vaccine. Regarding eligibility and manufacturer recommendations for vaccine use, Public Health has confirmed residents receiving the Moderna vaccine must be 18 years of age or older at the time of vaccination. They cannot be turning 18 later in the year.

On Monday, May 10, public health opened approximately 78,800 vaccination appointments to all York Region residents aged 40 and older (born 1981 or earlier), Group 2 individuals who cannot work from home, moderate health-care workers and individuals living with at-risk health conditions, along with all previously announced eligible priority groups.

A number of these appointments remain available for booking, specifically at the mass immunization clinics located at the Maple Community Centre in the City of Vaughan and the Trisan Centre located in the Township of King.

Residents are encouraged to book appointments at these locations through york.ca/covid19vaccine.

As announced May 13 by the provincial government, youth ages 12 to 17 have now been approved to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Residents receiving the Pfizer vaccine must be 12 years of age or older at the time of vaccination. They cannot be turning 12 later in the year.

Further information on the vaccination of residents 12 to 17 years of age is expected in the coming weeks.