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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.