All Ontarians Aged 18+ Becoming Eligible for Accelerated Second Doses

All Ontarians Aged 18+ Becoming Eligible for Accelerated Second Doses

Province Continuing to Expand Second Dose Coverage in Delta Hot Spots

June 25, 2021

Health


TORONTO — With more than 76 per cent of Ontarian adults having received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and over 30 per cent fully immunized, Ontario is accelerating second dose eligibility to all individuals aged 18 and over across the province.

Starting Monday, June 28, 2021 at 8:00 a.m., all Ontarians aged 18 and over who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine will be eligible to book an appointment to receive their second ahead of schedule. This will accelerate second dose eligibility for approximately 1.5 million Ontarians.

“Ontario’s vaccine rollout continues to pick up speed, allowing us to provide more second doses ahead of schedule while supporting our communities most at risk,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “All vaccines provide strong protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, and I encourage everyone to book your second dose appointment as soon as possible.”

The province continues to take action to further protect Delta hot spots by accelerating second doses and expanding second dose coverage. Between June 14 and June 23, 2021 more than 1,090,000 doses have been administered to people living in Delta hot spot public health units, and a total of 230,000 additional doses were provided to Delta hot spots for the week of June 21st, 2021.

Starting this week, provincially supported mobile teams have begun returning to community and workplace sites to support second dose clinics in Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Toronto, Peel and York region hot spots. Two pop-up teams and additional vaccination staff are also helping to accelerate first and second doses in priority communities in Waterloo.

“Thanks to our public health units, pharmacy and primary care practitioners, as well as employers in hot spot regions, we continue to make strides to increase vaccinations and get more Ontarians fully immunized,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “Vaccines remain the best defence against COVID-19 and its variants and we encourage everyone to get their first or second dose at their earliest opportunity to keep themselves, their families and our communities safe.”

Beginning Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 8:00 a.m., youth aged 12 to 17 who live in a Delta hot spot (Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Porcupine, Simcoe-Muskoka, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and York public health units) are eligible to book an accelerated second dose appointment through the provincial booking system, directly through public health units that use their own booking system, and through participating pharmacies.

In all other public health units, second doses for youth remain as they are currently booked at this time. To support a safe return to school in September, the province will be looking to accelerate youth second dose bookings following individuals aged 18 and over.

To ensure maximum protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, Ontarians are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as they can and to receive their second dose within the recommended interval.


Quick Facts

  • Due to the ongoing success of Ontario’s vaccine rollout and continuing improvements in key indicators, the province will move to Step Two of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen on June 30, 2021.
  • Ontario is confirmed to receive approximately 5.2 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and approximately 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine in June, as well as approximately 3.54 million doses of Pfizer in July. Ontario’s allocation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, meant to arrive during the first two weeks of July, will be 907,000 doses, down from the 1.7 million doses expected initially, with the remainder to arrive during the last two weeks of July. The government will adjust and mitigate any impacts of this delay to the provincial vaccine rollout.
  • All vaccines provided as part of Ontario’s vaccine rollout provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant. Mixing vaccines is safe, effective and enables Ontarians to receive their second dose sooner. This is consistent with the practices of many jurisdictions and recommendations provided by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).
  • Public health units are responsible for determining how vaccines are allocated through their region as well as through local distribution channels, including through the provincial booking system. Ontarians are asked to be patient, as it could take time to receive their vaccine appointment. New clinic appointments are being added regularly.
  • Eligible groups can use Ontario’s vaccine booking system to find out how to schedule an appointment, or can call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line number at 1-833-943-3900. For general inquiries, individuals can call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line number at 1-888-999-6488 or TTY service is also available by calling 1-866-797-0007. Appointments can also be scheduled directly through public health units that use their own booking system, and through participating pharmacies. Select primary care providers are also reaching out to book appointments.

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