Mixing and matching mRNA vaccines is safe, says Ontario doctor
York Region's top doctor is defending mixing mRNA vaccines less than 24 hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned against the practice.
On Monday, WHO Dr. Soumya Swaminathan called mixing vaccines "a little bit of a dangerous trend" and added there wasn't enough data to support mixing and matching.
But according to York Region's medical officer of health, Dr. Karim Kurji, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has been "very clear about mixing," and he reassures that both the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are interchangeable.
"Both in terms of their safety profile and their effectiveness," says Dr. Kurji. "This interchangeability occurs when the other one isn't readily available."
Right now, there is a Pfizer vaccine shortage in York Region, and because it is the only approved vaccine for children ages 12 to 17, health officials in the area have been reserving the shot for that age group.
While he expects to receive more doses early next week, Dr. Kurji has already seen people walk away and cancel appointments, leaving without that most crucial second dose.
"We urge them really to reconsider as it is important to be protected against COVID-19," says Dr. Kurji.
"The first dose, while it is quite effective against serious illness and hospitalization, it is important really to get the second dose as soon as possible," he adds.
Currently, in York Region, 81 per cent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 62 per cent are now fully vaccinated.
Dr. Kurji says his team is working on getting first doses into the arms of the remaining 20 per cent.
So far, most clinics in the region have opened up to allow walk-ins for first doses, and now there are plans in the works to begin pop-up vaccinations at malls, possibly by the end of the week.
Dr. Kurji says public health is looking into ways to vaccinate those who may be undocumented as well.
"As we do know, there are quite a large number of individuals who may have overstayed their visas in Canada, and we're trying to make it easier for them to get vaccinated," he says.
With files from CTV News
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.