If you’ve already had one COVID-19 vaccine, your second dose will be coming later than expected.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) said today that, as of March 10, most people will receive their second dose 16 weeks after the first dose was given.
“The move is intended to allow more people to be protected from COVID-19 during this time of limited vaccine supply,” the health unit said in a media release.
Those most at risk for severe illness and death will still receive their second dose as scheduled, 21 to 27 days of their first shot, including: residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, elder care lodges, and assisted living facilities who are at the greatest risk of both exposure to COVID-19 and serious illness and death; and remote and isolated First Nation communities given the potential seriousness of COVID-19 infection in these communities with limited available health care facilities and resources, noted the health unit.
Anyone not in one of the listed high-risk groups and who already has an appointment scheduled for their second dose before 16 weeks will have their existing appointment cancelled. Details on how to reschedule is still to come.
“The extension follows confirmation from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization that extending the interval between doses for two-dose vaccines will still give people a strong and sustained level of protection from COVID-19,” the health unit explained. The two-dose vaccines include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD.
For more information about COVID-19 and the vaccine roll out visit www.smdhu.org.
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Paul Clayson says
What happened to following the science? There is no evidence we can wait that long. Trudeau just wants to make good on his promise ,