Ontario expects to lower age eligibility for the vaccine; More COVID-19 vaccines being sent to hot spots

Ontario will send half its available COVID-19 vaccines to hot spots in the first two weeks of May to help fight the virus in those hard-hit regions.

That will be an increase from the current 25 per cent allocation for hot spots and follows a recommendation from the province's science advisers to allocate shots based on transmission rate rather than age group.

The government says it will return to a per capita distribution for vaccines across the province on the week of May 17.

Officials say Ontario will also lower the age eligibility for mass vaccination clinics to 55 and older starting tomorrow.

Ontario expects to lower age eligibility for the vaccine throughout May, with access for ages 18 and older forecast to start on the week of May 24.

Ontario's COVID-19 death tally has shot past the 8,000 mark, as the province reports 41 new fatalities linked to the virus.

It's also reporting 3,871 new infections.