More Simcoe County residents can book a second COVID-19 vaccine dose
Starting Monday, Simcoe County residents who received the AstraZeneca vaccine can book their second shot eight weeks after getting their first dose.
Previously the Ontario government had set a 12-week minimum wait for people who received AstraZeneca.
"We need to get people fully immunized if we're going to fight the delta variant," says Dr. Sohail Gandhi, the past president of the Ontario Medical Association who now practices in Stayner. "So this is really huge, and I'm really glad to see it, and frankly, I'm glad to see that we've got the supply of vaccines to do it."
People can also choose if they want a second dose of AstraZeneca or switch to Pfizer or Moderna.
Eligible people can book COVID-19 vaccine appointments through the provincial booking system or local health units.
The team at Pro-Health Pharmacy in Barrie says its phone lines were busy this morning, with many eager to rebook their second dose.
"So currently, we are giving Moderna vaccines," says pharmacist Shamshad Mansuri. "But I just got a fax today that I'll be getting more doses of Astrazeneca as well, so the people who got Astrazeneca they will have an option to choose either-or."
Also, as of Monday morning, second does appointments are being escalated in seven regions in the province where the highly transmissible delta variant is circulating. One of those is York Region, where new pop-up clinics are being planned in order to meet demand.
"The uptake has been phenomenal," says Dr. Karim Kurji, the medical officer of health for York Region.
"We have already vaccinated almost 20 per cent of individuals for their second doses."
This morning there were approximately 18,600 new appointments available in York Region. However, the website had more than 28,000 concurrent users.
Meanwhile, Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston is reducing the hours of its COVID-19 assessment centre from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Ontario recorded another 530 cases of COVID-19 yesterday.
With files from the Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.