Ontario Medical Officers of Health Urge Residents to Get Full Vaccines
The Ontario Council of Medical Officers of Health (COMOH) urges Ontarians to get a full COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible and take the first vaccine available to them for their first or second dose.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are interchangeable and can be received as a second dose, regardless of the first dose provided. Either can also be given after the first dose of vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine.
With the arrival of large shipments of Moderna vaccine and the reduction of Pfizer vaccine at this time, Moderna vaccine will be supplied as a second dose after Pfizer as the first dose frequently throughout the province.
Based on recent recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), either of these mRNA vaccines as a second dose is both safe and effective, and offers strong protection against COVID-19, including the more contagious and severe Delta (B.1.617) variant. With the increase of the Delta variant in Ontario, it is important that people receive two doses in order to be better protected.
“Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine provide a high degree of protection against COVID-19 infection, including serious illness, hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, Chairman of the Board of Medical Officers of Health of Ontario (COMOH). “I urge all people 12 years of age and over who have not received their first dose to do so as soon as possible, and everyone to receive their second dose as soon as you are eligible.”
Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are licensed in Canada and use similar mRNA technology, so the vaccines are interchangeable. In addition, those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose may take AstraZeneca as the second dose, with Moderna or Pfizer being more advised.
The mixing of vaccine products to complete a series is usually done with vaccinations against a number of other diseases such as hepatitis A and B, tetanus and meningitis.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccination and vaccine eligibility, please visit Government of Ontario COVID-19 Vaccination Website.
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