The Province has added Simcoe-Muskoka to the list of Delta variant areas of concern.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says second dose eligibility has also moved up to next week for people in designated Delta hot spots who received their first dose on or before May 30th.
“As of Monday, June 21st at 8 am, Ontarians who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 9th, will be eligible to book their accelerated second dose appointment,” said Elliott. “That same week on Wednesday, June 23rd individuals who receive their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 30th and who live in one of the now ten identified Delta hotspots being Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Porcupine, Simcoe Muskoka, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin, Guelph and York public health units will become eligible to book their second dose ahead of schedule.”
Also – starting the week of June 28th all Ontarians aged 18 and over who have received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine will be eligible to book their second dose appointment. The appointment will be scheduled at least 28 days after the first dose, per the recommended interval.
It’s hoped that expanding the number of Delta hot spots and rapidly expanding second dose coverage in these areas will help to minimize the risk of the variant’s spread throughout the province.
In addition, effective June 14th individuals who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine are also eligible to receive a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at an interval of eight to 12 weeks, with informed consent. This can include a second dose of AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine.
Ontario’s allocation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine meant to arrive during the first two weeks of July will be lower than initially projected (decreased from approximately 885,000 to 348,000 doses) and is planned to catch up during the last two weeks of July. The government will adjust and mitigate any impacts of this decrease to the provincial vaccine rollout.
The province will continue to expand eligibility for accelerated second doses across Ontario as additional vaccine allocations and shipment timelines are confirmed by the federal government.
From May 7 to June 17, more than 50 provincially supported mobile and pop-up clinics have administered over 86,000 vaccines at workplaces and community hubs in Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Toronto, Peel and York region hot spots, working closely with public health units. Mobile clinics are returning to these sites to focus on second doses beginning the week of June 20. Provincial mobile teams will also assist Region of Waterloo Public Health as it works toward preventing the spread of the Delta variant by helping to administer first and second doses to priority populations in COVID hot spots.
Individuals who are eligible to receive an accelerated second dose are invited to schedule their appointment through the provincial booking system, directly through public health units that use their own booking system, and through participating pharmacies. Select primary care providers will also be reaching out to book appointments.
“The large increase of Moderna vaccines and steady supply of Pfizer has enabled Ontario to speed up second dose appointments, target hot spot areas and provide more options for people to become fully immunized,” says Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “With every vaccine administered we are making meaningful progress in our collective efforts to protect our loved ones and keep communities safe.”
All vaccines provided as part of Ontario’s vaccine rollout provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant. In addition, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has confirmed that a mixed vaccine schedule can be completed safely and is effective. To ensure maximum protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, Ontarians are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as they can and to receive their second dose within the recommended interval.
As of June 16th, the province’s public health units, mass vaccination clinics, hospital sites, pharmacies, and physicians have administered nearly 12 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ontarians.
Over 75 percent of adult Ontarians are benefitting from the protection of a first dose of vaccine, and more than 19 percent are fully immunized. In addition, youth clinics hosted by public health units are operating across the province and have administered first doses to more than 48 percent of youth aged 12 to 17 to date.
Starting June 21 at 8:00 a.m., all Ontarians who received their first dose of an mRNA #COVID19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) on or before May 9 will be eligible to book or rebook their second dose appointment at a shortened interval. https://t.co/fq8KONZ9I4 pic.twitter.com/jZf5o98YGj
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) June 17, 2021