Colleagues,
Yesterday, the Chief Medical Officer of Health provided information about the second dose for individuals who received a first dose of AstraZeneca (AZ)/ COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccine. Please read this Memorandum from the Ministry of Health and this informed consent form for individuals wishing to receive their second dose of AZ following a discussion about benefits and risks with their healthcare provider. This information must be entered into COVAXON or through a supplemental process for record keeping.
Note that the pause on the first dose of AZ announced on May 11 remains in effect.
A number of key considerations:
- It is very important that individuals get a second dose. All vaccines approved by Health Canada remain highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, and, for two-dose vaccines, a second dose provides further protection.
- The current known risk of VITT following second AZ dose based on U.K. data is one in 600,000. Evidence continues to evolve on VITT cases and this will be monitored and updated as adverse events are reported in public health systems.
There are options for patients to receive their second dose of AZ:
- Individuals vaccinated in primary care between March 10 and 19 in one of the initial six public health regions vaccinating with AZ (Toronto, Peel, Hamilton, Peterborough, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, and Simcoe-Muskoka) may choose to either receive a second dose of AZ starting the week of May 24 until May 31 at a 10-week interval between doses or wait until the 12-week interval. For the primary care sites involved, you will be hearing directly from your local Public Health Unit.
- Patients vaccinated at a pharmacy with AZ in that time period of March 10-19 in select regions (Toronto, Windsor and Kingston) should reach out to that pharmacy to book a second dose at either a 10- or 12-week interval.
- Patients can also choose to wait for an mRNA vaccine when more is known from ongoing studies about the safety and efficacy of mixing vaccines. This would be scheduled at a 16-week interval between doses.
To support outreach and discussions with your patients, the OCFP has developed the following script that you can adapt for your practice.
We fully appreciate the challenge of keeping yourself and your patients informed on the evolving evidence and guidance on the vaccine rollout. As the OCFP receives additional information, we will continue to share this with you.
I hope that there is time this long weekend for you to have some well-deserved rest and relaxation. To those who are working over the weekend to take care of and keep patients safe, we are grateful to you.
Liz