Starting this weekend, youths aged 12 and over in Ontario are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

As of 8 a.m. Sunday, that age group will be eligible to schedule an appointment through the provincial booking system and call center, as well as at select pharmacies, according to a news release issued by the province’s Ministry of Health Friday evening. 

To book an appointment, individuals must already be 12 years old as of the date of their booking.

People who are not 12 years old come Sunday can book an appointment for a later date through the provincial call centre or directly through public health units that use their own booking system.

The Pfizer shot is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized by Health Canada for use in individuals aged 12 and over. 

The age group is becoming eligible a week ahead of schedule, though some regions have already started vaccinating youths at pop-ups and larger clinics.

The province says it made the schedule change at the request of public health units. It says the regions wanted to remove barriers for families getting vaccinated.

Source: CBC News