Ontario will begin accelerating second COVID-19 vaccine doses in 7 delta variant hot spots
Ontario will begin accelerating second doses for individuals who received their first shot on or before May 9 in seven hot spot areas where the delta variant is a concern.
Individuals in hot spots within Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and York public health units will be eligible to book their second Pfizer or Moderna doses through the provincial booking system as of 8 a.m. on June 14.
They will also be eligible at pharmacies and through local public health booking systems.
Officials said the province will not be restricting vaccine doses by postal codes in these hot spots and eligibility applies to the whole region.
There are no further changes to vaccine eligibility outside of the hot spots.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province will continue to accelerate second doses as additional vaccines are allocated by the federal government.
“This is an exciting time and we know that there are brighter days ahead,” she said. “Please continue to follow the public health measures that are in place to keep us safe and get vaccinated as soon as you’re able. If we all do our part, we will be able to enjoy a safe, two dose summer.”
- UPDATED TIMELINE: When can you book your second shot?
The province said they will be providing “additional allocation” of vaccines where “local inventory has been utilized.” However, no further details were provided regarding the number or percentage of doses that will be allocated.
“What I can tell you is that we are working virtually on a daily basis with all of the public health units across the province and asking them to use what they have in their freezers to make sure that we can get as many needles into arms as possible,” Elliott said.
“As they work through what they have remaining, then they will be receiving more supplies.”
Workplace mobile clinics, as well as employer-led clinics in Toronto, Peel and York regions, will also begin second doses the week of June 20.
People line up in Crescent Town for a COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic on June 18, 2021. (Francis Gibbs/CTV NEWS TORONTO)
Public health experts have said the spread of the delta variant, first discovered in India, could send the province into a fourth wave.
Last week, the Ontario science advisory table estimated that the delta variant now makes up about 23 per cent of Ontario's cases, representing an estimated 200 new cases each day over that one-week period.
This week, individuals aged 70 and up, as well as individuals who had a first dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine on or before April 18, were allowed to book a second shot. Those who received a first dose of AstraZeneca and wanted to receive a mRNA vaccine could also schedule their second dose through the provincial booking system or their local pharmacy.
Individuals who have received AstraZeneca must still wait 12 weeks before receiving a second dose.
When Elliott was asked about reducing the window between AstraZeneca doses similar to other provinces, she said that the 12-week interval is “the gold standard” and that the government is following the advice of medical experts.
Officials are encouraging residents who received their vaccine outside of Ontario to contact their local public health units to ensure their vaccination status has been properly recorded.
According to the government, 73 per cent of adults in Ontario have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 11 per cent have received both shots and are considered fully vaccinated.
Of those fully vaccinated, the majority are aged 60 and over.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.