COVID-19 in Ontario: Acceleration of booster rollout for residents 18 and over

News conference at Queen’s Park, Ontario Premier Doug Ford

In a news conference at Queen’s Park, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces his government is accelerating the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the province. On December 20, all Ontarians 18 and over are eligible to book appointments for their third dose, as long as it has been at least three months since their second dose. Free rapid antigen screening at pop-up sites is also being offered across the province, and certain venues that normally hold 1,000 people or more will be subject to a 50 per cent capacity limit effective December 18. The premier is joined by provincial Health Minister Christine Elliott, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, and Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health.