Shomporko Online News Desk: Toronto is scheduling 30,000 new appointments for eligible adults to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in response to “record demand” for second doses.
At 8 a.m. Wednesday, the provincial booking system will open for appointments at city-run clinics for the dates of June 22 to 27. Instead of the Pfizer vaccination currently utilized at city clinics, all reservations will be for the Moderna vaccination.
According to a city news release, “the Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations are remarkably close with virtually identical efficacy rates.”
“Both the federal and provincial administrations have approved a ‘mixed mRNA model,’ which combines Pfizer and Moderna for the first and second dose. “Getting a second dose of vaccination – any of the Health Canada authorized vaccines – is crucial to limiting the spread of the Delta variety of COVID-19, protecting vulnerable persons in the community, and keeping on track in reopening,” says the spokesperson.
Bookings should be informed that “almost all open appointments as of tomorrow will be for Moderna doses,” according to the city.
Past Moderna stocks supplied to Toronto have been given to hospital partners for their immunization clinics.
The additional 30,000 appointments are possible because of a larger-than-expected Moderna delivery coming this week, with the majority of the 71,000 doses flowing to hospitals and pop-up clinics in neighbourhoods hard hit by COVID-19.
On Monday, when more people became eligible for second doses, the city opened 60,000 new appointments for Pfizer vaccine in the provincial booking system. They were quickly snapped up, with city-run clinics 99 per cent booked by the end of the morning.
“Even with these additional appointments,” the city said, “the City’s immunization clinics continued to have capacity to administer more vaccine doses if additional supply was made available from the other governments.”
Residents can schedule appointments for City-run clinics by clicking the dark blue “Book a Vaccination” button on http://www.toronto.ca/covid-19 or phoning the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900.
On Tuesday, long lines formed at local health-partner clinics that were distributing vaccines.
One-fifth of Torontonians have now received all of their vaccines.
Source_thestar.com
