York Region puts 2nd dose appointments on hold for COVID-19 vaccine

The decision has been made following the province's announcement it would be following the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to extend the interval for the second dose up to four months

Newmrkettoday.ca
March 9, 2021
Debora Kelly

York Region Public Health is no longer booking appointments for the required second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The decision has been made following the province's announcement last Friday that it would be following the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to extend the interval for the second dose of the vaccine up to four months, according to Patrick Casey, York Region director of corporate communications. 

Information related to second dose appointments has been removed from region's website and the public health unit halted the bookings as of March 4, he added.

York Region had yet to decide if second dose appointments booked at York Region-led clinics between Monday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 3 will occur, he said.

"York Region continues to work with our hospital partners and our partners in other jurisdictions to ensure a coordinated and planned approach to second-dose appointments," Casey added.

An earlier story regarding the possible delay in second doses raised concern among some readers.

"I am quite worr(ied) that as we started to see the possibility of putting the pandemic behind us and yet we are thinking of extending the 2nd dose to 4 months instead of the manufacturers' recommendation of 3 weeks," wrote Michelle Yong. "This may prolong us from getting out of the pandemic as we may run into the risk that the 1st dose may not be sufficiently and effectively protect us from the virus, especially the number of variant cases are on the rise. I just cannot imagine what if the 1st dose loses its effect after 3 months and does it mean we all have to start all over again and get vaccinated?? Please reconsider."

The province stated, "NACI has provided the recommendation to extend the vaccination dose interval up to four months for all Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines while while maintaining a strong and sustained level of protection from the virus. This news along with the approval of new vaccines will help us to reforecast and maximize the number of people receiving a first dose in a shorter timeframe, pending supply from the federal government. Ontario has accepted and will follow NACI's recommendations starting March 10, with some limited exceptions."

In the meantime, the 3,000 additional appointment for vaccines offered this morning for residents aged 80 and over at the Richmond Hill and Georgina clinic have now been fully booked. 

As more vaccine supplies are made available, more appointments will open up to residents in this priority group, Casey said.