Scarborough COVID-19

• Second doses of vaccines provided at the Scarborough COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics will be given 16 weeks after the first dose, in accordance with provincial direction.
• The Ontario Provincial Government is following recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to extend the time between doses of the three two-dose vaccines currently approved by Health Canada (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD) to 16 weeks.
• The purpose of the extension is to increase the number of individuals benefiting from the protection of a first dose of the vaccine while we wait for supply to increase.
• The following groups will not have their intervals extended:
• Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and Assisted Living facilities who are at the greatest risk of both exposure to COVID-19 and serious illness and death; and
• Remote and isolated First Nation communities (currently supported by Operation Remote Immunity) given the potential seriousness of COVID 19 infection in these communities with limited available health care facilities and resources. Further discussion on dosage intervals for administering to the Indigenous population beyond Operation Remote Immunity will occur.
• Those who already have a second dose booked will have their appointment rescheduled.
• If you have already received your first dose, please do not schedule an additional appointment through this registration system. A second dose appointment will be booked for you at the clinic after receiving your first dose. If you book another first dose appointment through this portal, you will not be permitted to receive an additional vaccine upon arrival at the clinic.

Most people in Ontario will get their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine 16 weeks after their first dose. This allows for more access to first doses, so more people can get a vaccine and some protection against COVID-19 more quickly.

However, the Ontario Ministry of Health recently announced changes to the timing of COVID-19 vaccine second doses for some patients. They have identified some populations that qualify to receive their second dose vaccine at the original 3-4 week interval.

These new eligible groups include:

• People who have had a solid organ transplant
• People who received a stem cell transplant
• People receiving hemodialysis
• People with cancer of the blood, bones or lymph nodes who are undergoing active treatment*
• People with malignant solid tumours undergoing active treatment* *Active treatment is defined as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This excludes individuals receiving solely hormonal therapy or radiation therapy.

Additionally, the following groups will not have their intervals extended, as per the Ministry directive:

• Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and Assisted Living facilities who are at the greatest risk of both exposure to COVID-19 and serious illness and death; and
• Remote and isolated First Nation communities (currently supported by Operation Remote Immunity) given the potential seriousness of COVID 19 infection in these communities with limited available health care facilities and resources. Further discussion on dosage intervals for administering to the Indigenous population beyond Operation Remote Immunity will occur.

Rescheduling your second dose appointment — if eligible

If you identify as belonging to one of the eligible groups listed above, you qualify to receive your second vaccine dose within 21 to 28 days of your first dose. If you have already received your first dose vaccination, and your second dose was booked at the 16-week interval, you are eligible to have your second dose appointment moved.

To move your second dose appointment at our Scarborough COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic, please complete the following:

Rescheduling Form

We will send a rescheduled second dose appointment to your email address.