Ontario expanding second dose eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines
Thursday, June 17, 2021 @ 5:29 PM | By Amanda Jerome
The Ontario government announced on June 17 that the province will “accelerate its vaccine rollout by expanding eligibility for second doses ahead of schedule.”
According to a news release, eligibility to book a second dose appointment will go as follows:
“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,” the release explained.
The release also noted that 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 release added.
According to the government’s announcement, as of June 16, “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.”
This means that over 75 per cent of adult Ontarians have received their first dose of vaccine, and “more than 19 per cent 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 per cent of youth aged 12 to 17 to date,” the release added.
If you have any information, story ideas or news tips for The Lawyer’s Daily please contact Amanda Jerome at Amanda.Jerome@lexisnexis.ca or call 416-524-2152.
According to a news release, eligibility to book a second dose appointment will go as follows:
- As of Monday, June 21, at 8 a.m., all Ontarians who received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on or before May 9 will be eligible to book or rebook their second dose appointment at a shortened interval.
- As of Wednesday, June 23, at 8 a.m., individuals who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 30, and who live in the catchment area of one of the 10 public health units identified as delta hot spots (Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Porcupine, Simcoe-Muskoka, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and York public health units) will be eligible to book or rebook their second dose appointment at a shortened interval.
- Starting the week of June 28 (days / sequence to be confirmed), 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.
“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,” the release explained.
The release also noted that 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 release added.
According to the government’s announcement, as of June 16, “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.”
This means that over 75 per cent of adult Ontarians have received their first dose of vaccine, and “more than 19 per cent 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 per cent of youth aged 12 to 17 to date,” the release added.
If you have any information, story ideas or news tips for The Lawyer’s Daily please contact Amanda Jerome at Amanda.Jerome@lexisnexis.ca or call 416-524-2152.
