What you need to know about securing a second mRNA vaccine dose
You're eligible for a second dose. Now what?
Starting this week, a slew of Hamiltonians are newly eligible for an earlier-than-expected second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, due to the province declaring us a Delta variant hot spot.
But in a region where securing vaccine appointments has been compared to The Hunger Games," how can you ensure the odds are ever in your favour?
We have the tips and information you need to secure that sometimes-elusive appointment:
Who is eligible for a second dose this week?
As of Monday, June 21, Hamiltonians who got their first dose of an mRNA vaccine - Pfizer or Moderna - on or before May 9 can rebook. As of Wednesday, June 23, at 8 a.m., Hamiltonians who received a first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before May 30 can rebook. Next Monday, anyone aged 18 and over who got their first dose of an mRNA vaccine will be able to book their second shot, as long as the appointment is at least 28 days after the first.
Could Hamilton run out of appointments?
Yes. The last time a large group of Hamiltonians became eligible for vaccines, appointments disappeared within 30 minutes. Luckily, more spots opened up in the following days. Hamilton's medical officer of health, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, advises people who find themselves unable to find appointments through the provincial portal to check back often. When more supply arrives, more appointments open up. Appointments also open up if people cancel, Richardson said.
How can you increase your chances of booking an early vaccine appointment?
Richardson did not have much to say on this, other than to book at a site where you feel comfortable - pharmacy versus public health-run clinic versus another local clinic, such as Winterberry. But there are other methods for maximizing your chances: first, try to book your appointment through the provincial portal; also put yourself on wait lists at pharmacies (for a list of local pharmacies offering vaccines, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations); and finally, keep an eye on Vaccine Hunters Canada, Vaccinehunters.ca, a website with up-to-the-minute information about vaccine appointments in your area.
What should you do if snag an earlier appointment but have a later one booked?
Public health officials have been stressing for weeks that people should cancel appointments if they don't plan on showing up. Richardson spoke to this at a Monday news briefing. In a word, cancelling is complex," she said. If you book an earlier appointment through the provincial portal, and that's the same place you booked your other now-unneeded appointment, the unneeded one is cancelled automatically. If your unneeded appointment was booked through the city's hotline or St. Joe's hotline - or through a pharmacy - the city asks that you call back to cancel.
Can you mix and match vaccines?
Yes. In fact, you might have to. Hamilton has a dwindling supply of Pfizer vaccines, which is also the only vaccine approved for youth ages 12 to 17. Richardson said that supply is being reserved" for younger Hamiltonians. But the good news is Moderna and Pfizer are interchangeable," Richardson said, echoing other public health experts. People who have AstraZeneca can either book a second AstraZeneca shot or an mRNA one.
Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com