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Shortened Second Dose Intervals for COVID Shots in Ontario
Friday, June 4, 2021
The province announced today it is ready to administer second doses for all residents of Ontario as early as next week. You will now be able to book your second dose vaccine within 4 weeks, or just a little over that, as long as inventory lasts.
If you Got a First Dose mRNA Vaccine
For those who already had a first shot of an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine on or before April 18, 2021 you can now book an accelerated second dose appointment though the provincial booking system and call centre. Appointments will begin this Monday, June 7, 2021 at 8:00am at a mass vaccination clinic.
If you Got a First Dose AstraZeneca Vaccine
Starting today, if you got a first dose AstraZeneca vaccine you can mix vaccines and choose from all three types of vaccines for your second dose by booking your appointment at a participating pharmacy. There are now 327 pharmacies in the Toronto, Windsor-Essex and Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington public health units offering the AstraZeneca vaccine, and nearly 450 additional pharmacies offering the Moderna vaccine.
The overall planned schedule for vaccine eligibility is as follows:
- Week of May 31: individuals aged 80+
- Week of June 14: individuals aged 70+
- Week of June 28: individuals who received their first dose between the week of March 8 to April 18, on a “first-in, first-out” basis. For example, this included individuals with the highest-risk health conditions and special education workers.
- Week of July 19: individuals who received their first dose between the week of April 19 to May 9, on a “first-in, first-out” basis. For example, this included individuals aged 50 and over, as well as individuals with high-risk health conditions.
- Week of August 2: individuals who received their first dose between the week of May 10 to May 30, on a “first-in, first-out” basis. For example, this included individuals who cannot work from home and individuals who have at-risk health conditions.
- Week of August 9 to 16: individuals aged 12 to 25
- Week of August 9: individuals who received their first dose from the week of May 31 onwards on a “first-in, first out” basis, respecting the recommended intervals.
Ontario says it expects to receive approximately 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in June and approximately 3.54 million doses in July. And has also received 193,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. The government says they will continue to accelerate second doses for all Ontarians based on availability of vaccines and is expanding access across public health units and other channels, including mass immunization clinics, hospital clinics, pharmacies and primary care settings.
You're encouraged to get your vaccine as soon as you can to ensure maximum protection from the COVID-19 virus.