York Region expands 2nd doses to anyone who got a first dose before May 10

Elizabeth Keith
Newmarkettoday.ca
June 14, 2021

Starting Monday, anyone in York Region who got their first dose of a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine before May 10 will be able to move up their second dose appointment.

As of 8 a.m. on June 14, anyone who lives, works or attends school in the region is eligible to book an appointment online or over the phone, according to Patrick Casey, York Region’s director of corporate communications.

This latest expansion is in line with the province’s push to protect people in regions where the Delta variant is a risk, Casey said.

The Ontario government announced on June 10 that hotspot areas, including York, Toronto, Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Waterloo and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph will be accelerating second-dose eligibility.

As always, Casey said people who want to keep their original second-dose appointment date are able to do so and anyone who meets this new eligibility criteria who does not have a second-dose appointment booked will be able to make one.

York Region recently opened up accelerated second shots to anyone over 70 years old in effort to get more people fully vaccinated.

Currently anyone 12 years or older can book an appointment for their first COVID-19 vaccine dose in the region.

According to Casey, it is “critically important” for everyone to get vaccinated.

Anyone who has received an AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose can choose to receive a second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine or an mRNA vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. This aligns with recent recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Individuals who received a first dose of an AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose (either AstraZeneca or mRNA) 12 weeks after the first dose.