Peel and Toronto to let people choose between mRNA vaccines when supply permits
Toronto and Peel will begin offering both mRNA vaccines at their mass immunization clinics in an effort to reach people who are hesitant to mix doses despite pubic health advice that suggests it is safe.
The clinics began administering both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines interchangeably in June but there have been anecdotal reports since then suggesting that some individuals have walked out after being told that they would receive a different vaccine than the one they got for their first dose.
Last week Peel Public Health began a new initiative called “Pfizer Fridays” to reach some of those people and it proved to be a success with thousands of appointments being booked.
Now officials in both Peel and Toronto say that they will begin offering both Pfizer and Moderna at all of their clinics so long as supply permits.
The shift, which will take effect this weekend, comes amid an expected increase in supply of the Pfizer vaccine with Ontario getting 1.2 million doses this week and nearly 1.6 million doses next week.
Toronto says that it will also make first-dose vaccinations at its nine clinics walk-in only as of Monday in an effort to further remove barriers.
More than 80 per cent of eligible Ontarians have now received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 65 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has, however, suggested that the province should be trying to get its vaccination rate up to at least 90 per cent due to the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.