COVID-19: Hamilton designated a Delta hotspot as province accelerates vaccine interval

Hamilton | Ontario | COVID |

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Published June 17, 2021 at 5:36 pm

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Hamilton has been included among the Ontario Public Health Units (PHUs) designated as a hot spot for the COVID-19 Delta variant and, starting next week residents will be eligible to book an accelerated second vaccine dose.

Adult residents of Delta hot spot regions, which as of Thursday (June 17) includes Hamilton, Simcoe-Muskoka, and Durham Region, who received their first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine on May 30 or earlier will be eligible to book their second shot starting Wednesday (June 23)

Additionally, the province said that as of Monday (June 21) at 8:00 a.m., all Ontarians who received their first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on or before May 9, 2021, will be eligible to book or rebook their second dose appointment at a shortened interval.

The new Delta hotspots join Peel Region, Toronto, Wellington-Guelph-Dufferin, Halton, York Region, Porcupine and Waterloo where earlier this week eligibility was accelerated for a second dose.

Also earlier this week, individuals who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine became eligible to receive a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at an interval of eight to 12 weeks, with informed consent.

The acceleration of doses comes as vaccine supply continues to flow steadily into the province and across the country.

“The large increase of Moderna vaccines and steady supply of Pfizer has enabled Ontario to speed up second dose appointments, target hot spot areas and provide more options for people to become fully immunized,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones in a press release.

Individuals who are eligible to receive an accelerated second dose can schedule appointments through the provincial booking system, directly through public health units that use their own booking system, and through participating pharmacies. Select primary care providers will also be reaching out to book appointments.

On Thursday, Hamilton reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths associated with the virus.

The number of active cases in the community is down to 170 and there are currently nine active outbreaks across the city.

A total of 430,192 vaccine doses have been administered locally, accounting for 71.5 per cent of eligible residents.

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