Vaccines are 'safe to mix:' SMDHU encourages booking any second dose available
Simcoe Muskoka residents hoping to get their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can book an appointment ahead of schedule after Ontario accelerated the program for the newly listed hot spot.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) encourages residents to consider the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots "interchangeable" instead of waiting for a preferred vaccine.
On its Facebook page Monday, the SMDHU states, "Both Moderna and Pfizer use a similar mRNA technology, so the vaccines are interchangeable and safe to mix."
Ontario Medical Association's past president, Dr. Sohail Gandhi, said health authorities should have been upfront at the start of the vaccination process about not being able to approve mixing at that time because studies on it hadn't been completed.
"If that had been said right at the beginning, there wouldn't be some of the misinformation that's out there right now," Gandhi said. "You couldn't say that because it hadn't been studied."
The health unit notes that anyone who received AstraZeneca for their first dose can "safely get the AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer for your second dose for strong protection."
Late last week, the province added Simcoe Muskoka to its list of Delta variant hot spots.
The region's associate medical officer of health, Dr. Colin Lee, explained the region falls into the top 10 of 34 health units across the province to have data showing 15 to 20 per cent of COVID-19 cases classify as the Delta variant making it a hot spot.
As of Friday, 18 cases had identified as the Delta B.1.617.2 variant across the region. Nearly 670 more screened positive for a variant of concern, requiring further testing to determine the strain.
Starting Monday, residents who had their first mRNA shot on or before May 9 can book or reschedule their second appointment through the provincial booking site.
Residents who received their first vaccine on or before May 30 can book their second shot starting Wednesday.
Complete information on Simcoe Muskoka's COVID-19 vaccination program, including how to book an appointment, is available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.