Ontario, Alberta to lower minimum age for AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to 40 from 55 – CBC

Shot will be offered at Ontario’s pharmacies, primary care settings starting Tuesday

Apr 18, 2021

Ontario and Alberta will start offering the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to people age 40 and over starting Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said the shot will be offered at pharmacies and primary care settings. In a statement Sunday, Alexandra Hilkene said the province made the call based on “current supply” of the vaccine.

Hours after Ontario’s announcement, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted the province will follow suit, also lowering the eligibility age from 55 to 40, citing advice from Alberta public health officials. More details will come in the morning, the premier said.

Before Ontario’s announcement, the vaccine was only available to people aged 55 and older in Ontario in line with recommendations from the National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) earlier this spring.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-lowers-minimum-astazeneca-age-1.5992703