Ontarians aged 50 and older can book COVID-19 booster shots starting today

Ontario residents 50 and older can now book appointments to receive their COVID-19 booster doses as long as it has been six months since they received their second dose. 

The provincial booking platform opened at 8:00 a.m. but crashed soon after. People took to social media to express their frustration with the booking system 

Over an hour since the Ontario provincial vaccine booking system was supposed to be up and running for anyone over 50 and this is the message I have been getting all morning when trying to book a booster for my mom. Are vaccine hunger games back in Ontario? pic.twitter.com/dB3UyWgSdK

— Omar Yar Khan (@OmarYKhan) December 13, 2021

My parents asked me to book their vaccine booster appointments, as they became eligible this morning. It was stressful AF navigating the booking website and I’m a technologically competent person. It shouldn’t be this difficult Ontario!!

— Anna B (@annabuch23) December 13, 2021

Tried to book my Covid booster on the Ontario site, and it’s woefully unable to process bookings. Thought I had finally gotten through, in a queue for about an hour, but when I got to the booking page and filled in my information it said “unable to process request.” 😡

— Didi (@Bytowngal) December 13, 2021

And of course the Ontario booking system is down to book a booster.

— I never finish anyth (@NathalieGray) December 13, 2021

People can book appointments to get their vaccine by phone, through local public health units using their own booking systems and at some pharmacies and primary care clinics.

Booster eligibility is set to open for all adults on Jan. 4. 

This comes as Ontario’s panel of expert advisers on COVID-19 said the Omicron variant now accounts for 21 per cent of Ontario’s COVID-19 cases. 

Monday is also the deadline for long-term care workers in Ontario to be fully vaccinated. Staff, students and volunteers can’t enter long-term care homes without proof of both doses.