Second doses accelerated in Waterloo Region, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph due to concerns over Delta variant: province
People who received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose before May 9 in Waterloo Region and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph will be able to get a second dose early, according to the Ministry of Health.
At a press conference on Thursday, officials with the province said the schedule change is due to concerns over spread of the Delta variant, the B.1.617 variant first identified in India.
Accelerated second doses appointments will also be available in Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Toronto and York.
As of Friday, there were 19 confirmed cases of the Delta variant in Waterloo Region, but health officials believe there are more based on current trends.
On Friday morning, regional officials said people can fill out an online form starting Monday to get an earlier second dose appointment.
The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph health unit says their booking system will be ready by Monday morning, with second dose appointments depending on which vaccine was received as a first dose and when it was given.
"You'll only be able to get a second dose if it's been three weeks since Pfizer, four weeks since Moderna, or twelve weeks since AstraZeneca," said associate medical officer of health Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum.
Vaccine expert and professor at the University of Waterloo Kelly Grinrod said getting the second jab is essential amid the growing threat of the Delta variant.
"The first dose of the vaccine doesn't work as well as it did for the older variants, so we really need a second dose of the vaccine to protect you against the Delta Variant," she said.
Most of the AstraZeneca vaccines administered in Waterloo Region on or before May 9 were at local pharmacies. Grinrod says pharmacists are now overwhelmed with questions about second doses.
"Patients can't get through, they can't get any work done, they are having a hard time balancing the phone calls and vaccinating people," she said.
Grinrod recommends checking for information online instead of calling a pharmacy with questions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.