Booster Dose Eligibility Expanded to 18+

Residents 18 Years or Older Can Book Their Booster Dose Appointment as of Monday December 20

Booster Doses can be booked for a date that is at least 3 months after a second dose

Starting December 20, 2021, the provincial government will be expanding eligibility for COVID-19 booster doses to all residents turning 18 years of age or older in 2021.

In Peterborough region, this expanded eligibility and decreased interval will allow for around 59,000 residents to be eligible for a booster dose. The province has also announced that the interval between second and third doses will be shortened to 84 days or 12 weeks instead of the previous 168 days. With this eligibility expansion, the following residents can book a COVID-19 booster dose appointment for a date that is at least 84 days after a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was received:

• Residents 18 years of age or older (born in 2003 or before)
• First Nations, Inuit, and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members
• Individuals who received two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
• Individuals who received one dose of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
• Healthcare workers

Residents can determine the date when they become eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose using this guide.

“We are now considering the COVID-19 vaccine to be a three-dose vaccine,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health. “As we are seeing a substantial rise in COVID-19 cases, likely linked to the Omicron variant, we are strongly encouraging residents to receive their booster dose as soon as it is available to them.”

Dr. Piggott is urging residents to be patient as they book a booster dose appointment, “There is overwhelming demand for booster doses among our residents. We ask that residents be patient when booking their appointment. Appointments are being added daily and more will continue to come in the new year.” Residents are encouraged to reach out to loved ones and neighbours, particularly those who are elderly or otherwise at-risk of severe COVID-19, to share booking information and assist with booking an appointment if needed.

Effective December 20, eligible residents who received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 84 days or 12 weeks prior, can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Residents can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the provincial vaccine booking system in the following ways:

• Online at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ OR
• Over the phone by calling the provincial vaccine booking call centre at 1-833-943-3900

Residents can also book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at a local participating pharmacy.

Dr. Piggott is reminding residents that at this time they cannot walk-in to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic to receive a booster dose. “We have been experiencing long lines at some of our vaccine clinics which has been primarily due to residents trying to receive their booster dose without an appointment. Staff at the COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be turning people away if they try to walk-in to a clinic for their booster dose.” To prevent standing in line at a vaccine clinic, residents are asked to book an appointment and show up at the time of their scheduled appointment, not earlier.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, upcoming vaccine clinics, and booking a vaccine appointment, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/vaccineclinics.

For further information, please contact:
Sarah Gill
Communications
705-743-1000, ext. 352