Ontario is further accelerating the roll-out of second doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
During a technical media briefing on Thursday (June 17), provincial officials provided details of the accelerated roll-out, which is intended to prevent the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant (B.1.617.2, first identified in India).
Beginning on Monday (June 21), adults who received their first dose between April 19 and May 9 will be able to book an earlier appointment for their second dose. Originally, the eligibility date for accelerated second doses was July 19.
Beginning on Wednesday (June 23), adults who live in Delta hot spots and received their first dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine on or before May 30 can book an accelerated second dose. The current Delta hot spots are Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, York, Hamilton, Simcoe-Muskoka, and Durham.
Beginning on Monday (June 28), the province will “gradually” accelerate eligibility for second doses for the remaining adult population who received their first dose on and after May 10. Originally, the eligibility date for adults who received their first dose from May 10 to 30 was August 2, and the date for adults who received their first dose May 31 and later was August 16.
For children, youth, and young adults, the province will accelerate the eligibility dates for second doses, originally scheduled between August 9 and 22, but has not yet confirmed the new dates.
According to provincial officials, the acceleration of second doses is possible because additional shipments of the Moderna vaccine have been confirmed for June, including more than 1.2 million doses this week and almost 2.2 million doses next week, for a total of 3.3 million Moderna doses.
The province is also receiving almost 1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week and each of the following two weeks, for a total of 2.8 million Pfizer doses.
Because the increased vaccine supply is primarily the Moderna vaccine, provincial officials said some people accelerating their second-dose appointments may receive a dose of Moderna rather than Pfizer.
People booking through the provincial system will only learn which type of vaccine they will receive when they arrive at the clinic. Provincial officials acknowledged that some people have shown reluctance to receive the Moderna vaccine.
For people who received a first dose of AstraZeneca, as of June 14, they became eligible to receive a second dose of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna between eight and 12 weeks after they received their first dose.
To date, 75 per cent of adult Ontarians have received at least one dose of vaccine, with more than 19 per cent of adults fully immunized. Over 48 per cent of Ontarians between 12 and 17 years of age have received at least one dose.
PDF: Ontario Vaccine Implementation Update – June 17, 2021
PDF: Ontario Vaccine Implementation Update - June 17, 2021
