Huron Perth Public Health is extending the time some residents wait between doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Health officials say residents may wait up to 16 weeks between their first and second vaccination.
“This will mean cancelling most currently booked appointments for second doses and offering more first doses,” HPPH says.
This follows a report from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, saying second doses of the vaccine can be given up to four months after the first.
The Doug Ford government is following that advice, with the hopes of inoculating as many Ontarians as possible.
However, HPPH says not all second doses are being extended.
The following groups will continue to receive their second dose of vaccine between 21 to 42 days:
- Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and Assisted Living facilities who are at the greatest risk of both exposure to COVID-19 and serious illness and death.
“Current evidence with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines shows high vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 for two months after the first dose, including among older populations,” HPPH says.