Ontarians who received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be able to receive the second dose after eight weeks. Once again, the government changes its mind. And it does so just two days later. Health Minister Christine Elliott said on Thursday that those who had received AstraZeneca as their first dose would have to wait 12 weeks before getting the second one inoculated, even if it was an MRNA vaccine. The change comes amid pressure from public health experts and local politicians to shorten the 12-week time frame between the two doses, allowing more people to be fully vaccinated, especially due to the emergence of variant B.1.617.2 known as the Delta variant.

In a press release released Saturday, the health ministry said the change was made in consultation with the chief medical officer of health and other health experts, including the Ontario Science Advisory Table. “This decision is based on emerging clinical evidence on the administration of two doses of different vaccines, as supported by the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NACI) – said the ministry – evidence from multiple studies indicates that mixing COVID-19 vaccines (receiving an mRNA vaccine after an AstraZeneca vaccine) at dosage intervals between eight and 12 weeks is safe and demonstrates a beneficial immune response.”

From 8 am this morning those who live in hotspots – Toronto, Peel Region, Halton, York Region, Waterloo, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph and Porcupine – and who have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine before May 9, will be able to make an appointment to have the second dose of vaccine administered. The possibility of booking will therefore no longer be restricted to people who have received Pfizer and Moderna: even those who have received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be able to book the second appointment after eight weeks and can choose between the same injection or an mRNA vaccine – Pfizer or Moderna. The province said residents who want an MRNA vaccine as a second dose can make their appointment through the provincial reservation system, while those who wish to receive a second dose of AstraZeneca should contact the place where they received the first vaccination.

Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist and member of the province’s vaccine task force, said the government made a smart decision to speed up second doses for people who received the first dose of AstraZeneca. “This is the right move – said Bogoch – it allows people to protect themselves from the Delta variant. We will continue to see COVID-19 rates plummet in the province. We can reopen safely and slowly return to our pre-COVID-19 life. We’re not there yet, but we’re well on this path.”

Scientific table co-chair Adalstein Brown said that while the Delta variant will soon become dominant in the province, its spread can be kept at bay and the fourth wave can be avoided. “This is not an apocalyptic scenario. We believe that if we are really able to continue a vaccination strategy focused on high-risk communities and do so very quickly we have a good chance of controlling the Delta variant and having a good summer,” Dr Brown said.