OTTAWA -- Ottawa residents 55 and older can book COVID-19 vaccine appointments starting on Friday as the province's vaccine rollout continues to expand.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, anyone born in 1966 or earlier can log on to the provincial booking system to register for a vaccine appointment at a city clinic They can also call the provincial booking line at 1-833-943-3900 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

When using the provincial booking system, you book appointments for both your first and second doses.

The province announced Thursday it would lowering the vaccine age eligibility to 55 across Ontario on Friday.

The new timeline anticipates lowering the age limit gradually throughout May: to 50 and older the week of May 3, 40  and older on May 10, 30 and older on May 17 and 18 and older on May 24.

The city is reminding people that walk-ins will not be accepted at community clinics, even at the end of the day.

Some people under 55 have already been able to book appointments through other means. People 40 and over are eligible to book appointments at pharmacies, but not through the provincial booking system.

Among those who can use the provincial system who are under 55: people 45 and older living in high-risk neighbourhoods, licensed child care workers, pregnant people, and First Nations, Metis and Inuit people.

Starting Monday, people 50 and over will be eligible to book online. 

People with "high-risk" health conditions will also be eligible to book Monday. Those include obesity, people with developmental disabilities and people undergoing immunosupressive treatments such as chemotherapy.

Also on Monday, people in 'Group 1' of those who can't work from home will be eligible to book vaccine appointments.

This includes elementary and secondary school workers, workers who respond to critical events, people in enforcement, inspection and compliance roles such as law enforcement, workers in childcare, foster care agency workers, agriculture and farm workers, and funeral, crematorium and cemetery workers.

For a full list of who's eligible to book a shot now and how to do so, click here.