'It's perfectly fine': York Region's top doctor explains mixing vaccines
Ontario recently changed the guidelines to allow mixing COVID-19 vaccine doses, but many residents still question whether or not it's wise.
York Region's top doctor promotes getting the first available shot.
"It is preferable to have the same brand of vaccine according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, but when that is not readily available, it's perfectly fine and perfectly safe to have another mRNA vaccine," said Dr. Karim Kurji.
The region's medical officer of health said York Region received 29,000 Pfizer vaccines this week and is administering around 10,000 shots per day.
However, as shipments decrease, residents may have to accept the second dose of another vaccine brand.
"We do expect some reduced shipments as of July 5," said Dr. Kurji.
Around 23 per cent of the York Region population remains unvaccinated, according to Dr. Kurji. He hopes pop-up clinics and a presentation this week at council will push people to get their shot.
"This is a very significant issue for us because when we look at the deaths from COVID-19, the vast, vast majority of the individuals who are dying are the individuals who are not vaccinated," said Kurji.
With the emergence of the Delta COVID-19 variant in Ontario, Dr. Kurji stressed the importance of getting the vaccines to avoid severe symptoms from the virus. Although, after handling 44 cases of the variant in recent weeks, Dr. Kurji said most have recovered.
"I'm not particularity concerned about the Delta variant in York Region, frankly," said Dr. Kurji. "Given the fact that we have a high proportion of individuals receiving their first dose and we have about 32 per cent receiving their second dose and these numbers are rising."
Dr. Kurji said although York Region hasn't been hit hard by the Delta variant, areas such as Waterloo have, which he said is likely stalling the province's reopening plans because of the risk of it spreading.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.