TORONTO, Ont. - Individuals who received AstraZeneca as a first dose will be able to receive either Pfizer or Moderna as a second dose.
On Thursday, the provincial government announced that based on advice from the chief medical officer of health, as well as updated guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, it is safe to mix a viral vector vaccine and a mRNA vaccine.
“Nothing is more important than the health of Ontarians, and for the best protection against COVID-19 it is vital that everyone who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose receives a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. David Williams, chief medical officer of health in a statement.
“We are providing individuals who have received only their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine with two recommended options based on the available data and evidence and will continue to work with Health Canada to monitor the quality and efficacy of all COVID-19 vaccines being used in Ontario.”
Starting on June 4, individuals who received AstraZeneca as a first dose and wish to receive Pfizer or Moderna as a second dose can schedule an appointment with pharmacy administering the mRNA vaccines.
Individuals may also choose to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine as a second dose following it as a first dose after the 12-week interval by contacting the pharmacy or primary health care provider that administered it as a first dose.
The week of June 7, individuals who received AstraZeneca as a first dose will also be able to book an appointment for a second dose only through the province’s online booking system after the 12-week interval of having received their first shot.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations has also advised that different manufactures of the mRNA vaccine, Pfizer and Moderna, can be interchanged between first and second doses.
