Residents of the London area who have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are going to be waiting a while before they get their second.
The Middlesex London Health Unit announced Tuesday that second dose appointments for people who were given shots at the Western Fair Agriplex and the clinic in Mount Brydges are being rescheduled for up to 112 days after the first dose. The move is in keeping with direction from the province to extend the time period between doses to up to 16 weeks.
Residents of long-term care or retirement homes whose second dose appointment was scheduled on or after March 10 are exempt from the changes. Anyone whose appointment is being rescheduled will be notified via text message or email.
“The data shows that the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine is 92% effective after two weeks have passed since the initial dose and that extending the time between doses to 16 weeks doesn’t have a detrimental effect on the protection the vaccine provides,” Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie said in a statement released by the health unit. “We are still facing a limited supply of vaccine and it makes sense to provide effective protection against COVID-19 to as many people as we can, even if it means extending the time between doses.”
The recommendation to extend the time between doses from Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams matches that of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
According to figures released by the health unit, 44,751 doses of vaccine have been given at the Western Fair Agriplex and the clinic in Mount Brydges, as of March 8.
