Hamilton residents eligible for accelerated 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose after Delta variant hot spot designation

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Published June 18, 2021 at 2:47 pm

Individuals who received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Hamilton will be eligible for an accelerated second dose, beginning Monday (June 21).

The shortened second dose interval is a result of Hamilton’s provincial designation as a hot spot for the Delta variant.

Beginning Monday at 8 a.m., individuals who received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on or before May 9, 2021, will be eligible to book or rebook their second dose appointment at a shortened interval.

While, as of Wednesday (June 23) at 8 a.m., individuals who received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on or before May 30, 2021, will be eligible.

Meanwhile, sometime during the week of June 28 (the exact date has yet to be determined by the province), all individuals aged 18 and over who have received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine will be eligible to book their second dose appointment. The appointment will be scheduled at least 28 days after the first dose, per the recommended interval.

The Ontario government has included Hamilton as one of ten public health units identified as a Delta variant hot spot. Communities with the highest rates of Delta variant transmission were identified through data and analysis by Public Health Ontario and Ontario Ministry of Health.

“With the concerns around the Delta variant, getting that first dose and completing your vaccine series as soon as possible is the only way to stop the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. Ninh Tran, Associate Medical Officer of Health. “Individuals should receive the first mRNA vaccine that is available to them for their second vaccine dose regardless of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine type (Moderna or Pfizer) they received for their first dose, all mRNA vaccines provided in Ontario provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants.”

“Completing a vaccination series by receiving the second dose of any mRNA COVID-19 vaccine type is safe and effective in the protection against the COVID-19 virus and its associated variants.”

Approximately 443,578 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Hamilton. Upwards of 71.8 per cent of residents over the age of 18 have received a vaccine to date with 18.9 per cent having completed their vaccine series.

In addition, 53 per cent of youth ages 12 to 17 have received the first dose to date.

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