Health Department receives notice from province about delay in delivery of Pfizer vaccine

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department has been notified by the Ontario Ministry of Health that there will be a delay in shipment of Pfizer vaccine affecting delivery to Durham Region mass immunization clinics. As a result of this delay, effective June 22, all clinics in Durham Region will move to offer Moderna for appointments booked by individuals 18 and older until additional Pfizer vaccine is received.

Individuals 12 to 17-years old will not be affected by this change and will be vaccinated with remaining Pfizer vaccine doses. Due to the delay in shipments of Pfizer vaccine, the Health Department’s current limited supply will be reserved for youth between the ages of 12 and 17 as Pfizer is the only vaccine approved in Canada for this age group. Youth who had an appointment booked at a mass immunization clinic that will now be offering Moderna vaccine will be contacted to have their appointment moved to a youth vaccination clinic offering Pfizer vaccine.

Earlier this month, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization announced recommendations indicating that if the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) a person received as their first dose is not available, they can safely receive another mRNA vaccine. Both mRNA COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Canada work in the same way and are highly effective.

With increased cases of the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of concern, it is crucial for all individuals to complete their vaccine series with a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to receive optimal level of protection. If you had Moderna or Pfizer for your first dose, you can safely receive either Moderna or Pfizer for your second dose; both offer strong protection against COVID-19.

If you have questions about mixing vaccines, information is available at www.durham.ca/covidvaccines. Clinic staff can also 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 that they are given. Any abuse or harassment of staff will not be tolerated. For more information and updates on COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Durham Region, visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact the Health Department