By Staff
June 20th, 2021
BURLINGTON,, ON
On Saturday, June 19, the Province informed Halton Region Public Health that due to a Federal supply delay, Halton Region will not be receiving Pfizer vaccine as scheduled this week. This delay is unexpected and impacts the entire province.
To ensure that every booked appointment is honoured, all Halton clinics will be administering the Moderna vaccine for residents 18 years of age and older, as it is interchangeable with Pfizer. As directed by the Province, remaining supplies of the Pfizer vaccine will be used for individuals 12 to 17 at this time as this is the only vaccine authorized by Health Canada for this age group.
Both Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines are safe, effective and authorized by Health Canada. Consistent with recommendations provided by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization, mRNA vaccines are interchangeable meaning those who had Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for their first dose can safely have either Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for their second dose.
“Getting the first dose available to you is critical for gaining strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “All Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death. I urge all residents to complete their two doses as quickly as possible with the first vaccine available to protect themselves, their loved ones and community.”
I am scheduled to have my 2nd vaccination at Joseph Brant Hospital on Wednesday, June 23rd and just received an email, this evening, June 21st saying that Pfizer is not available. It will be Moderna, and if I don’t want Moderna I will have to reschedule.
I am more than disgusted. The information coming from our leaders changes from moment to moment. AstraZeneca is ok, no it’s not ok. It is fine to get a second AstraZeneca shot, well no not any more. It is fine to mix Pfizer and Moderna – well today it is what about tomorrow?
Anyone who needs to get screened for certain medical tests are now asked if they have had their second injection. Does that mean that if you are not fully vaccinated you have to wait to get the tests?
People who are fully vaccinated are contracting the Delta Variant and are dying. I can’t be the only one who feels we are being sold a bill of goods. I don’t believe anything that comes from any government source.
Canadians should be embarrassed at how our Federal Government has handled the purchase and rollout of the vaccine.
We better be prepared for the 4th wave.
Sad state of affairs isn’t it Penny going back decades with all our federal governments. Time to hold them accountable and laugh in their face when they lecture other nations about human rights and corrupt elections.
I had the Pfizer and am tempted to stay with that because I know I am good with it. And wait if needs be. Now they are saying they are interchangeable. This is new. I don’t think anybody managed to pull a randomized controlled trial in the last four weeks. I remember reading this from May 22….
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/when-it-comes-to-vaccine-interchangeability-naci-recommends-using-the-same-type-1.5439707
“Currently, no data exist on the interchangeability of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, according to the committee.”
What am I missing? Intuitively one would guess that it is okay. But from what I read, there are differences, even though they both use MRNA technology.
I received my second Pfizer shot today at Joseph Brant Hospital. The medical people were competent and cordial; the volunteers and security people were excellent. One young lady said that the key to their success was ensuring that we were only allowed to show up 10 minutes prior to our scheduled appointment, otherwise it would look like Voting Day in the US South…..