'It is safe. It is effective': WECHU strongly encouraging mixing doses
Officials with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit say when it comes to getting your second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, it is best for residents to take the first vaccine that is made available to them, even if that means mixing doses.
“Vaccine interchangeability is not a new concept. It happens all the time,” said medical officer of health, Dr. Wajid Ahmed Monday. “They are both basically the same vaccine.”
Ahmed is referring the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, both classified as mRNA vaccines.
He says the majority of people across Windsor-Essex have received Pfizer to date. But with Ontario set to receive 2 million doses of Moderna by the end of June mixing the two doses is the best option.
“We will be in a position to offer early or shortened interval for the mRNA vaccine,” he adds.
Ahmed also referenced the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) who also strongly recommended getting the first available vaccine. “There are no concerns about this interchangeably,” he quoted.
As for residents in Windsor-Essex who received AstraZeneca as their first dose, they will be able to book an accelerated second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday.
This applies to those who received a first jab at least eight weeks ago.
The Ontario government had previously set a minimum wait time of 12 weeks for people who took a first dose of AstraZeneca.
They can choose whether to get a second dose of AstraZeneca, or switch to an mRNA vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.
There are currently 49,000 doses of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneza available in Windsor-Essex available to residents this week.
“It is important that we get that immunity,” says Admed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.