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Tuesday, February 18, 2025
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HomeHealth and LifestyleDelay In Vaccine Delivery Prompts Shift In Clinic Planning

Delay In Vaccine Delivery Prompts Shift In Clinic Planning

KAWARTHA LAKES-The provincial government this weekend notified health units that the shipments of Pfizer vaccine that were expected this week
have been delayed.

As a result, the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit has reviewed its vaccine allocation to ensure that the mass immunization clinics that have been planned, and the appointments that have been booked, will be kept.

As of June 21, adults aged 18+ who have an appointment booked at one of the HKPR mass immunization clinics this week will be offered the Moderna (mRNA) vaccine. Youth aged 12 to 17 will still receive the Pfizer vaccine as it is the only vaccine currently approved for that age group.

As per the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can be interchanged for first and second doses. Based on local vaccine availability, people may be offered a different brand of mRNA vaccine for their second dose.

“The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are both mRNA vaccines and the way in which they trigger an immune response is nearly identical,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “Real world evidence to date has shown that receiving a different vaccine for first and second doses is safe and does not provide any less protection.”

With the Delta variant increasing in some regions of the province, Dr. Bocking says it is important that people get their second dose as soon as they are able to get an appointment and receive either vaccine as protection. The Delta variant is more
transmissible compared to other variants and having two doses of a COVID vaccine offers increased protection against this
variant.

“With the delay in delivery of Pfizer vaccine this week, it highlights the importance of being able to use either mRNA vaccine for
second doses,” Dr. Bocking says. “I would encourage people to continue to get their second doses so they have greater
protection.”

Last week, the province made the following announcements about the timing of second doses:

  • As of today, all Ontarians who received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on or before May 9, 2021 are
    eligible to book or rebook their second dose appointment at a shortened interval.
  • Starting the week of June 28, 2021, all Ontarians aged 18 and over who have received their first dose of an mRNA COVID19 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.
  • In addition, effective June 14, 2021, individuals who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine are also eligible
    to receive a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at an interval of eight to 12 weeks, with informed consent. This can
    include a second dose of AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine.

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