Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/June 24, 2021
To get fully vaccinated from COVID-19, and avoid a resurgence of cases locally, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) urges residents to take advantage of the first mRNA vaccine (either Moderna or Pfizer) that is offered to them – for either their first or second dose. Recent delays in shipments of Pfizer vaccine reinforce the need for individuals to get the first brand of mRNA vaccine that is available, in order to get fully protected against the virus as soon as possible. As the province announced today that Step Two of reopening will begin on June 30, getting your second dose as soon as possible is critical in order to prevent the spread as more activities are permitted.
mRNA vaccines are interchangeable, which means they work the same way, so you can receive one vaccine product for your first dose and a different vaccine product for your second dose to complete your two-dose vaccine series. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has approved the interchangeability of these vaccines, and the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health has issued a statement on this topic.
Both Moderna and Pfizer are safe, effective, and offer strong protection against COVID-19. However, two doses of vaccine are required to be fully vaccinated, and obtain optimal protection against COVID-19, including the more contagious and severe Delta (B.1.617) variant. Individuals who received AstraZeneca for their first dose can safely get either Moderna, Pfizer or AstraZeneca for their second dose. With the increase in the Delta variant in Ontario it is essential that everyone receive two doses of vaccine as quickly as possible in order to be more fully protected. Obtaining two doses as soon as possible is also critical to increase community immunity, help protect the vulnerable in our region, and help end the pandemic.
“As allocations of both brands of mRNA vaccine will fluctuate, individuals should be prepared to accept the brand of vaccine that is available at the time of their appointment, for both their first and second dose,” said Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at HPEPH. “As we can not guarantee whether or when the same brand of vaccine will be available at your second dose appointment, please do not postpone your vaccination in anticipation of future allocations. It is essential to get two doses to receive the strongest possible protection.”
While residents aged 18 and up are encouraged to accept the brand of vaccine that is available, Pfizer will be offered to the 12-17 year old age group for both their first and second dose, as it is the only authorized vaccine for this age group.
Still waiting for a first dose?
Individuals who are still waiting to book their first dose appointment are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Local appointments are currently available on the provincial booking system at Ontario.ca/book-vaccine or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line number at 1-833-943-3900. If you are unable to book a first dose appointment through the provincial booking system, please contact HPEPH directly at 613-966-5500 and follow the prompts. Individuals who received their first dose on or before March 17 can also contact HPEPH directly. HPEPH is working to extend clinic hours and adding more appointments as we receive additional allocations of vaccine in the coming weeks.
If you haven’t received your first vaccine we want to hear from you!
We want to know what challenges are being experienced booking an appointment. Please share your input by completing our short, anonymous survey. The survey, which should take no more than five minutes to complete, will help HPEPH understand how we can improve access to and/or available information about COVID-19 vaccination. As a thank you for those who take the time to provide feedback, individuals who participate can choose to provide contact information for a chance to win a $25 gift card to a local store. To participate, the survey must be completed by July 16, 2021.
For the latest information about vaccinations in our region, be sure to visit our vaccine booking and eligibility page, or our vaccine safety and availability page. If you are eligible but do not yet have an appointment booked, you can also register for our Standby List.
-30-
Media Contacts:
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
etubbs@hpeph.ca
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
mhyland@hpeph.ca
