The Ontario government “is ready to deliver a two-dose summer” by offering everyone in the province their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of August — as long as the expected vaccine supply holds up.
With 65 per cent of Ontario’s adult population having now received their first vaccine dose, the province is shortening the interval between first and second doses from 16 weeks to as little as four weeks.
“We’re now in a position to accelerate second doses in Ontario,” Premier Doug Ford said during a media conference at Queen’s Park on Friday (May 28). “This is great news, and I know many of you have been waiting for it.”
“The faster we can deliver vaccines, the faster we can put this pandemic behind us for good,” Ford said. “We see what’s happening in other places, where people have been fully vaccinated. The good news is, that can be us. Based on what we know about upcoming shipments, everyone in Ontario who wants a vaccine could be fully vaccinated by the end of August … Ontario is ready to deliver a two-dose summer.
Beginning next week (May 31), people 80 years and older in Ontario will become eligible for their second dose of vaccine, followed by people ages 70 to 79 during the week of June 14.
Starting at the end of June, everyone over the age of 25 will become eligible for their second dose based on the date of their first dose.
People who received their first dose between March 8 and April 18 will become eligible the week of June 28. Those who received their first dose between April 19 and May 9 become eligible the week of July 19, those who received their first dose between May 10 and 30 become eligible the week of August 2, and those who received their first dose on May 31 and after become eligible the week of August 9.
For those under 25, including children and youth ages 12 to 17, they will become eligible for their second dose the week of August 9.
The interval between first and second doses could be as little as four weeks, depending on the local availability of appointments and vaccine supply.
People who have already received their first dose and have a second appointment booked are not required to reschedule their second appointment unless they choose to do so.
The government is encouraging people to receive their second dose at the same location where they received their first dose, such as a mass vaccination clinic or a pharmacy. However, Ontarians will have the option to reschedule their second appointment at a different location if they choose to do so.
Second dose appointments can be scheduled through the provincial booking system or at pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccines. People who received their first dose at a hospital clinic should contact their public health unit for booking details. People who received their first dose through a primary care provider or a pharmacy should contact them for booking details.
For people waiting for their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, they will be eligible for the second dose within 12 weeks of their first dose. People who received their first dose of AstraZeneca between March 10 and 19 were offered the opportunity to book their second dose during the week of May 24.
Those who received a first dose of AstraZeneca may become eligible for a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, depending on pending guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
The Ontario government also confirmed the provincial declaration of emergency and stay-at-home order will expire on Wednesday, June 2nd. The province’s “emergency brake” will remain in effect, with public health measures and restrictions still in place, until the province is ready to enter step one of its reopening plan, expected to begin Monday, June 14th.
During Friday’s media conference, Premier Ford also addressed the issue of the reopening of schools, saying he is seeking more opinions before making a decision.
On Thursday (May 27), Ford sent a letter to pediatric and medical experts, local medical officers of health, and teachers’ unions and associations — 55 in all — asking them to respond to seven detailed questions on whether it is safe to reopen schools before the end of the academic year. Ford asked for their responses by 5 p.m. the following day.
“We have to ensure any decision is based on sound scientific and medical advice that protects students and staff in schools,” Ford said during the media conference. “I look forward to hearing back from our experts and using their input to make the decision that best protects our students and school staff.”
Asked by a reporter to respond to critics who have said “you’re looking for someone else to blame if reopening of schools goes south”, Ford said he will take responsibility for the consequences of his decision, but he remains concerned by projections by the province’s top science experts that reopening schools could result in thousands of additional cases.
“I want to make sure, looking forward, that we’re able to get the kids in camp,” Ford said. “I want to look forward to make sure we have a great September for the kids to go back into school. This could affect our opening as well … I’m going to be super cautious.”
PDF: Premier of Ontario – Letter to Stakeholders – May 26, 2021
Premier of Ontario - Letter to Stakeholders - May 26, 202
