COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin - June 10, 2021

Volume 19 – Issued June 10, 2021

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine Is Quick and Easy

Anyone 12 years of age and older is eligible to attend a mass-immunization clinic offered through the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) for their FIRST dose.

Book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment online, or by calling 705-360-4819 (Timmins) or 1-800-461-1818, or drop-in at any clinic to get vaccinated the same day. Visit the PHU vaccine webpage to find out when upcoming clinics are scheduled.

Some primary healthcare providers will be starting to offer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and will be reaching out to their clients to schedule a vaccine appointment.

News Highlights:

It is very important that you receive the second dose even if you experienced side effects the first time.

COVID-19 Vaccine Numbers:

Vaccine doses given at PHU mass immunization clinics: 54,909.
Number of people vaccinated with at least 1 dose of vaccine in the PHU area: 46,258.
69.7% of individuals 18 years of age and older in the PHU area have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Additional COVID-19 Vaccines Allocations for PHU

Three additional allocations of COVID-19 vaccine have been provided to the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) area. Due to record number of COVID-19 cases, increases in outbreaks and the presence of the Delta variant (B.1.617) in our region, Dr. Catton (Medical Officer of Health) has continued to advocate for increased vaccine supply for the PHU. This additional support from the Ministry was greatly welcomed and has been critical to the vaccine rollout in the PHU area. With this additional vaccine supply the PHU has been able to vaccinate more residents with their first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines which is vital in increasing individual and community protection against COVID-19 infection and spread. This is especially true now that the Delta variant is present in our region. The Delta variant is more transmissible compared to other variants and having two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine offers increased protection against this variant.

Second Dose COVID-19 Vaccine & Vaccine Interchangeability

All individuals 16 and older, who have received their first dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days ago can book an appointment for their second dose online, or by calling 705-360-4819 (Timmins) or 1-800-461-1818.

Updated recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) confirms that interchanging mRNA vaccines is safe and effective. This recommendation is based on current scientific evidence and NACI’s expert opinion.

Individuals who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) at least 28 days ago can now schedule a dose two appointment and receive Pfizer for their second dose. Individuals who received Moderna for their first dose and wish to receive Moderna for their second dose are encouraged to remain patient as the Ministry of Ontario has suggested additional allocations of Moderna may be received mid-June.

Individuals who received dose one of AstraZeneca will continue to follow the product monograph and receive dose two at a 12-week interval. They can choose either AstraZeneca or a mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer), as per NACI guidelines. The only exception to get a second dose before the 12 weeks is for individuals who are undergoing active treatment (i.e. chemotherapy or dialysis), and require a 4-12 week interval, at the discretion of their healthcare provider. With the AstraZeneca vaccine, a 12-week interval is recommended for optimal immunity.