Ottawans 55 and over eligible for vaccines Friday

All Ottawans 55 and oldercanstart bookingCOVID-19 vaccination appointmentson Friday, the city announced on Thursday afternoon.

Anyone born in or before 1966will be able to schedulean appointment at a community clinic asof 8 a.m. throughthe province's online booking system, or by callingthe provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900.

That phone line is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

The city said in its news release that walk-in appointments won't be accepted, evenat the end of the day. Leftover doses at the end of the day will be given to pre-booked individuals, it said.

The age change affects the entire province. Renfrew County's health unit had already moved to people age 55 and up in clinics.

As of Thursday, all Ottawans 60 and older are eligible to be immunized. Other currently eligible groups include residents who are 45 and older and living inhot-spot communities with the postal codes K1T, K1V or K2V, as well aslicensed child-care workers, pregnant women and Indigenous populations.

Those who are 40 and older can also bookvaccines by contacting a participating pharmacy in Ottawa.

The city announced the lower age limit Thursday as the provinceplans toopenup booking to all adults by the end of May, anticipating the arrival in Ontario ofmillions of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTechand Moderna vaccines.