Starting Monday, WDG Public Health will be ramping up appointment bookings for second vaccination doses.
Individuals who received their first dose on or before May 9 will receive an email or text message with instructions to book an appointment for their second COVID-19 vaccine.
Danny Williamson, communications officer at WDG Public Health, said because more than 60,000 invitations will be sent, residents should expect to receive an invitation between Monday and Wednesday next week.
The move comes after the province announced on Thursday that WDG Public Health is a delta hotspot with the highly-contagious B.1.617 variant and is expanding eligibility for accelerated second doses in hotspot regions. Other delta hot spots in the province include the regions of Halton, Peel, Porcupine, Toronto and Waterloo.
WDG Public Health began reaching out to individuals for their second vaccine in early June but ramped up bookings after the provincial announcement Thursday.
Also, people who received AstraZenica as their first dose at a pharmacy or healthcare provider can now book for a second dose of mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) through the Public Health portal.
“We want to make booking a second dose as easy as possible,” said Dr. Kyle Wilson, director of information systems, in a press release.
“We know people are keen to get vaccinated as quickly as possible, so we are grateful for people doing what they can: being patient, continuing to check their SPAM and junk folders and using our online booking website to book their appointment.”
WDG Public Health is expecting 8,000 extra doses of the Moderna mRNA vaccine to help with both first and second doses.
“This additional support from the province will help us continue to protect our community from COVID-19 – especially as we seek to reopen across the region,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health in a press release.
“I am urging every resident of the region: do not wait. Book your first or second dose as soon as you can. Have the vaccine conversation with friends, family and co-workers and help ensure all of us are protected.”
Early June, the province announced that anyone who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine (which was briefly discontinued in Ontario) may choose to either receive a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, or an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine as their second dose.
Individuals having trouble booking online can call 1-844-780-0202 for support beginning Monday.
