COVID Vaccine Update
Second Dose Eligibility
The province has announced further eligibility for second doses ahead of schedule as follows:
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 8:00 a.m., residents who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 30, 2021 (and other Ontarians living in one of the 10 public health units identified as Delta hot spots), will be eligible to book or rebook their second dose appointment at a shortened interval.
Week of June 28, 2021 (*date TBC): all Ontarians aged 18 and over will be eligible to book their second dose appointment provided at least 28 days has elapsed since their first dose.
Residents can book appointments at Public Health Vaccination Clinics through the provincial booking system and call centre at 1-833-943-3900, or participating pharmacies and primary care settings. Residents who had first doses at hospital clinics can book through these channels and also through the hospital booking sites. It's not necessary for residents to book their second dose where they received their first dose, though we encourage them to cancel any later appointments if they secure an earlier booking.
Booking Appointments
Many people have been successful in booking their second doses, but we also know that many residents are feeling frustrated with being unable to book an appointment. Appointment availability and clinic capacity is heavily dependent on vaccine supply and eligibility.
We ask that you be patient and understand you may not get an appointment immediately. You’re also encouraged to check back as additional appointments are anticipated in the days to come, and to explore other opportunities for vaccination through hospital clinics, participating pharmacies and primary care providers.
Our website provides details on how and where to book.
Clinics Are Busy!
With increased capacity and residents eager to get their second dose, we are ready and expecting busy days ahead at our clinics. Our mass clinics accommodate 70 - 80 appointments every 15 minutes, and although the lines appear long due to volume and physical distancing, they move quickly.
Some residents who book in advance of becoming eligible will regrettably be turned away, which can also impact flow at our clinics.
Remember to wait in your car until 10 minutes prior to their appointment and please be patient. Teams both inside and outside the clinic will ensure residents move safely through to the vaccination process.
Vaccine Interchangeability
With historically high COVID-19 rates and as a provincially identified Delta variant area of concern, it is imperative that Peel residents and those who work or go to school in Peel get their second dose as soon as they are eligible. We know residents have many questions about vaccine interchangeability and today’s announcement related to AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines are creating even more questions. In the coming days we will share up-to-date information and key messages that you can share with our residents. In general, the rule for second doses is that residents can get vaccinated with the same product they got for their first dose, or the first available mRNA vaccine offered to them.
New COVID-19 Data Reports
Over the next few weeks, we will be posting COVID-19 data summaries by social determinants of health including race and occupation, starting with agency workers, truck drivers and personal support workers. Today's updates and these data are collected to help inform services and programs. Past reports have helped to plan our vaccination program.
