Alberta joins Ontario in lowering minimum age for AstraZeneca vaccine
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Two provinces will offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 40 and over starting Tuesday, officials announced Sunday following days of mounting pressure to lower the minimum age.
Alberta and Ontario had previously stuck to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s recommendation to offer the AstraZeneca shot to those 55 and over due to a slightly elevated risk of an extremely rare blood clot disorder.
But as hospitalizations surged to unprecedented levels in Ontario and Alberta saw unparalleled rates of COVID-19, their governments announced matching plans to expand eligibility.
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Ontario will start offering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 40 and over starting on Tuesday, the province announced Sunday following days of mounting pressure to lower the minimum age.
The province had previously stuck to the National Advisory Committee on Immunizationâs recommendation to only offer the AstraZeneca shot to those 55 and over due to a slightly elevated risk of an extremely rare blood clot disorder.
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But as hospitalizations surged to unprecedented levels in Ontario and AstraZeneca vaccines sat in pharmacy refrigerators, Health Minister Christine Elliottâs office confirmed the plan to make the shots available to more residents.
NACI provides advice to provinces and territories, Hajdu told a news conference Sunday. They can adjust their use for AstraZeneca as per their desire and the advice from their own public health authorities and medical expertise.
She noted that Health Canada has licensed the AstraZeneca shot for use in people over the age of 18. NACI continues to review the advice on AstraZeneca use and will have updated guidance in the very near future, Hajdu added.
Her comments come as some provinces particularly Ontario and Alberta grapple with devastating third waves of COVID-19.
And while Ontario Premier Doug Ford points the finger at a lack of vaccine supply, the head of the association that represents the province s hospitals argued that AstraZeneca shots were sitting in pharmacy freezers.
Author of the article: Nicole Thompson  â¢Â Canadian Press
Publishing date: Apr 19, 2021  â¢Â 2 hours ago  â¢Â 4 minute read
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Ontario will start offering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 40 and over starting on Tuesday, the province announced Sunday following days of mounting pressure to lower the minimum age.
The province had previously stuck to the National Advisory Committee on Immunizationâs recommendation to only offer the AstraZeneca shot to those 55 and over due to a slightly elevated risk of an extremely rare blood clot disorder.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser. Ontario lowers minimum age for AstraZeneca shot to 40 from 55 starting Tuesday Back to video