Toronto 
Ontario has announced that residents Ontarians will have the option to get their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine sooner as the province moves to shorten the interval between shots.
Those who got a first shot of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be offered a second dose after 12 weeks.
Moving up the second dose is optional and people will keep their original appointments if they don’t re-book for an earlier shot.
Ontarians aged 80 and older can start booking their second doses starting today (May 31st).
After that, the province says residents will become eligible for second shots based on when they got their first dose.
The province says it’s able to make the move because 65 per cent of all adults have at least one shot and Ontario now has a steady vaccine supply.
Shortening intervals between doses is part of the province’s plan to fully vaccinate all willing adults by the end of the summer.
Update June 3rd: Ontario says people who have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will have three options for their second dose starting June 4th.
Update June 4th: Individuals turning ages 70 and over in 2021, as well as individuals who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before April 18, 2021, will be eligible to schedule an appointment to receive their second dose sooner.
Ontario has announced that starting 8:00 a.m. on Monday, June 14, 2021 individuals who live in Delta hot spots in Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and York public health units and also received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 9, 2021 will be eligible to book their accelerated second dose appointment through the provincial booking system (for Peel and Toronto public health units), directly through public health units that use their own booking system and through participating pharmacies. Primary care providers will be reaching out to book appointments.
Update June 12th: The province now says those who received a first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine should seek their second shot between eight and 12 weeks later, noting those residents can safely use any of the currently approved vaccines for their second dose.
Anyone who received their first shot of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 9 can book a second dose starting Monday.
Residents of 10 hotspots who got first shots on or before May 30 can book second doses starting Wednesday, June 23. All adults in Ontario who got their first dose on or after May 10 can book an earlier second shot starting the week of June 28.
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.
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.
Ontario’s Vaccination Plan for the Second Dose
If your vaccine is Moderna or Pfizer – If you can rebook via the provincial booking system, health units or at participating pharmacies.
| Starting date | Who is eligible |
|---|---|
| May 31 | People aged 80 and over People aged 70 and over (in pharmacies or primary care settings only) People who received their first dose on or before April 18 (in pharmacies or primary care settings only) |
| June 7 | People aged 70 and over (through the provincial booking system) People who received their first dose on or before April 18 (through the provincial booking system) |
| June 14 | People in who received their first dose on or before May 9 and live in Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph or York public health units |
| June 21 | People who received their first dose on or before May 9 in all other public health units |
| June 23 | People who received their first dose on or before May 30 and live in Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, Porcupine, Simcoe-Muskoka, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph or York public health units |
| June 28 | All remaining Ontarians age 18 and older who have received their first dose |
| June 26 | 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). |
In alignment with NACI’s recommendation, Ontarians who have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can choose to either receive a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, or an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine for their second dose. These second dose options will be provided at 8+ week interval (effective June 14th). Both second-dose options available to individuals who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine are safe and provide strong protection against COVID-19 and will count as a completed series.
— With Files From The Canadian Press
