Health Department has received Pfizer vaccine shipment that was delayed earlier this week

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department has now received the shipment of Pfizer vaccine that was delayed earlier this week. This delay, which was noted by the Health Department on June 20, affected the supply of Pfizer vaccine at Durham Region mass immunization clinics resulting in the Health Department administering Moderna vaccine at area clinics for appointments booked by individuals 18 and older.

With this shipment, the Health Department will resume providing Pfizer vaccine at area mass immunization clinics located at the Audley Recreation Centre, Ajax, Ontario Tech Campus Ice Centre, Oshawa and the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, Bowmanville, on June 24. Clinics in north Durham and McKinney Centre, Whitby, will remain unchanged and continue to administer Moderna vaccine.

The Health Department has also received an additional supply of Moderna vaccine which has allowed an increase in daily appointments to 1,550 from the current 940 appointments at Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, Pickering, which will now only offer Moderna vaccine. This clinic is a large site which provides the capacity to expand for more appointment bookings allowing those who received Pfizer or Moderna as a first dose to receive their second dose at an earlier date.

As Durham Region was recently identified as a Delta variant of concern hot spot, it is crucial to get as many residents fully immunized as quickly as possible to ensure an optimal level of protection and to help in slowing the rate of transmission within the community. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has indicated that both mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) provide proven protection against COVID-19 and are safe and effective to be used interchangeably. Both vaccines are authorized for use in Canada, work the same way and are highly effective.

Individuals 12 to 17-years old will continue to be vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine, as Pfizer is the only vaccine approved in Canada for this age group. Youth who had appointments booked at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex clinic site will be contacted by Health Department staff to discuss options for booking at other clinics offering Pfizer.

To book appointments at any Durham Region mass immunization clinic, visit www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment or contact the call centre at 1-888-444-5113. For more information and updates on COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Durham Region, visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines. Clinic staff continue to be available to offer reassurance to help clients feel comfortable prior to receiving vaccine. Please remember that our vaccination clinic staff continue to serve the community with professionalism every day without any control over the supply of vaccine they are given. Any abuse or harassment of staff will not be tolerated.

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For more information, please contact the Health Department