KFLA Public Health reported seven new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend-three cases on Saturday and four on Sunday. The number of active cases will be updated on Monday.
Meanwhile KFL&A Public Health is reporting that Ontario’s Pfizer vaccine delivery that was expected on Monday, June 21 has been delayed by two to three days. As a result of the Pfizer vaccine delay, any youth aged 12 to 17 years that have clinic appointments on Tuesday June 22, Wednesday June 23, and possibly Thursday June 24, 2021, will by contacted by KFL&A Public Health and rebooked to another clinic later in the week.
KFLA Public Health encourage all individuals 18 years of age and older to keep your scheduled clinic appointment and receive Moderna vaccine as your first or second dose. Moderna vaccine has proven to be equally as safe and effective as Pfizer vaccine in clinical trials and real-world studies.
Also, research shows that using a different COVID-19 vaccine for a second dose is safe and effective.
Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) supports ‘mixing vaccines’ or vaccine interchangeability meaning you can receive one vaccine product for your first dose and a different vaccine product for your second dose to complete your two-dose vaccine series. Moderna and Pfizer are both mRNA vaccines that work in the same way and are considered interchangeable.
“With COVID-19 and the Delta variant circulating across the province, it is recommended to get vaccinated with the first available vaccine,” said Dr. Hugh Guan, Associate Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health. “If you are 18 years of age and older, we hope that you will keep your appointment and get vaccinated with Moderna mRNA vaccine either as your first or second dose.”
Any individuals who have already received their vaccine through another clinic, or do not want to keep their already scheduled appointment are asked to cancel their appointment so someone else can take it. For more information on how to cancel your clinic appointment, please visit the vaccine page on the agency’s website. Please do not call KFL&A Public Health as we will be unable to address such a large volume of calls in a timely manner.
KFL&A Public Health will work to open more appointments based on the delayed shipments to our region. We will advise when additional appointments are available and continue to monitor the agency’s website and social channels.
Other partner organizations that operate clinics in the KFL&A region will also be affected by this delay in COVID-19 vaccine supply. Youth scheduled at these clinics will receive a phone call to rebook. Anyone over the age of 18 years is encouraged to keep their appointment.
For more information about vaccinations in our region, please visit our vaccine booking and eligibility page. If you are eligible and unable to book an appointment, please register on the standby list. For the most up to date information on COVID-19, visit www.Kflaph.ca/Coronavirus or www.Ontario.ca/coronavirus.