The Government of Ontario is allowing a select group of people get a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Through the week of May 24th, those who received their first dose between March 10th and March 19th can get shot number two.
On May 11th, following the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, the province paused the rollout and administration of first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
AstraZeneca is being offered by Milton’s Total Health Pharmacy. Marketing Specialist at THP, Joshua Gerges, says if you had no complications with your first dose, you’ll be fine with your second shot.
Nearly one million Ontarians aged 40 and over received the AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose between March 10th and May 11th. Data from the UK strongly suggests a much-reduced risk of VITT in second doses of AstraZeneca – one in 600,000. Based on this evidence, the province says it is committed to ensuring Ontarians who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose, and who do not receive their second dose at the 10-week interval during the week of May 24, will have the ability to receive a second dose of AstraZeneca within the recommended interval of 12 weeks. The province says it is working with primary care providers and pharmacies to ensure second dose appointments are scheduled in advance of the 12-week interval, and will provide further information on how individuals who received their first dose of AstraZeneca can book a second dose appointment in the near future.
The province adds that it is also looking closely at available data and evidence from a clinical trial in the UK evaluating the administration of two doses of different vaccines and has requested direction from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). At this time, NACI does not recommend that vaccines of different types (e.g., mRNA vaccine and viral vector vaccine) be used in the two-dose series, as data on the immune response following mixed vaccine schedules are not yet available. Further information from clinical trials and NACI’s recommendation are anticipated to be available in June.
“Nothing is more important than the health of Ontarians, and for the best protection against COVID-19 it is vital that everyone who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose receives a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine,” says Dr. David Williams. “We are providing these individuals with a safe option based on the available data and evidence and will continue to work with Health Canada to monitor the quality and efficacy of all COVID-19 vaccines being used in Ontario.”
Book your appointment here. You can find Total Health Pharmacy at 470 Bronte St. South in Milton.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can call 905-876-4440, or send an email to info@thpmilton.com.
You can find other local pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccine here.
