Second Dose Strategy – Vaccine Interchangeability

Point Edward, ON – Lambton Public Health is advising all individuals who have booked appointments for COVID-19 vaccines, that effective June 21, they are unable to guarantee that individuals will receive a particular vaccine brand for either their first or second dose. Recent vaccine shipment delays reinforce the need for individuals to get the first vaccine available, either as their first or second dose.

The approved mRNA vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer brands, are interchangeable and presently being used at the mass immunization clinics, and will continue to be used moving forward. This direction is in keeping with NACI (National Advisory Committee on Immunization) scientific guidance which states:

• All COVID-19 vaccines available in the province, have been determined to be safe and effective by Health Canada, and have been shown to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death associated with COVID-19.
• If you had Moderna or Pfizer for your first dose, you can safely take either Moderna or Pfizer for your second dose for strong protection.  Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are authorized for use in Canada and use a similar mRNA technology, so the vaccines are interchangeable and safe to mix. If you had AstraZeneca for your first dose, you can safely take either AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer for your second dose for strong protection. NACI now recommends an mRNA Vaccine as a second dose for those who received Astra Zeneca as a first dose.
• To ensure maximum protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, Ontarians should get vaccinated as soon as they can and book their second dose as soon as they are eligible.
• The only exception to this are 12-17 year olds, for whom Pfizer is the only approved vaccine, so people in this age group will receive Pfizer for both their first and second dose.

Dr. Sudit Ranade, Medical Officer of Health for Lambton County states: “What’s most important is that as many Lambton County residents receive both first and second doses as soon as possible. We know that having two doses provides the strongest possible protection against the Delta variant. We have enough vaccine coming in the next 2-4 weeks to increase our local vaccination rates significantly, and doing so will allow us to safely return to the activities and gatherings we have missed so much. I strongly encourage all Lambton residents to take the first available dose they can, whether they are coming for their first or second dose.”

Lambton Public Health and its partners Bluewater Health and Lambton County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as well as local municipalities continue to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations at mass immunization clinics in Point Edward Arena, Wyoming Fairgrounds, Lambton Shores Recreation Centre, and Clearwater arena. The mobile immunization team also continues to deliver first and second doses to homebound and congregate care residents.

Visit GetTheVaccine.ca/register for local vaccine registration information.

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