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Watch: Province announces expanded second dose rollout

As of Monday, June 21, at 8 a,m., those who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 9, will be eligible to book their accelerated second dose appointment.

Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott, along with Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, announced today that Ontario is accelerating the vaccine rollout by expanding eligibility for second doses, ahead of schedule.

As of June 21 at 8 a,m., those who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) on or before May 9, will be eligible to book their accelerated second dose appointment. 

There is also an accelerated timetable for anyone living in an area considered a “Delta hotspot,” an area that is dealing with the Delta variant. Anyone living in a Delta hotspot health unit who received their first dose on or before May 30 can rebook their second dose for an earlier appointment time (as available) starting June 23 using the province’s online booking systems.  

Those hotspots include Simcoe-Muskoka, Durham, Hamilton, York, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, Waterloo, Toronto, Porcupine, Peel, and Halton health units.

Starting the week of June 28, though exact dates and sequences are yet to be announced, 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.

The province says more than 75 per cent of Ontario's adults have received their first dose, and more than 19 per cent are fully vaccinated. Ontario is confirmed to receive approximately 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in June, approximately 3.54 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine in July and approximately 3.2 million doses of the Moderna vaccine before the end of June.

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.

Jones was clear that not only are any mRNA vaccines effective, “all vaccines provided as part of Ontario's vaccine rollout provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant.”

She also confirmed that the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has confirmed that a mixed vaccine schedule is safe and effective. 

“If you had Moderna or Pfizer for your first dose, you can safely take either Moderna or Pfizer for your second dose. Furthermore, with informed consent, individuals who received their first dose of AstraZeneca can now receive a second dose of any COVID vaccine at an accelerated interval of eight weeks.”

She then said the best vaccine for any Ontarian is the one they are offered. 

“The best vaccine for your second dose is a vaccine that is available first,” said Jones. “COVID-19 variants are still a concern, and it's critical everyone sign up to receive your second dose sooner when it's your turn. Together, we can stop the spread of the virus.”