HPPH: Make Your Second Dose a Priority

HPPH: Make Your Second Dose a Priority

June 18, 2021

Huron Perth, ON – As more vaccine becomes available in Huron Perth and local eligibility continues to expand for earlier second doses, Huron Perth Public Health reminds everyone to make their second dose a priority.

“Whether it’s the same vaccine series, or a mix of two vaccines, being fully vaccinated is extremely valuable. Two doses of vaccine, either from the same vaccine or from a combined Pfizer and Moderna series, provide safe and highly effective protection against the COVID-19 virus and variants, including the highly transmissible Delta variant,” says Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health for Huron Perth. “I strongly encourage everyone to get their vaccine as soon as possible, and to make their second dose a priority. When there are more fully vaccinated people in our communities, the more protection everyone has from COVID-19.”

The most recent vaccination coverage information available shows that 74.4% of Huron-Perth residents aged 16 years and older have received their first dose. Increased amounts of vaccine are expected to arrive in Huron Perth in the coming weeks and additional community vaccination clinics will be added, which means thousands of Huron Perth residents will be able to receive second doses sooner than originally anticipated.

Residents who have had any type of COVID-19 vaccine as their first dose (AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna) are eligible to book at an HPPH clinic for any type of mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) for their second dose. Pfizer and Moderna are interchangeable mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, as endorsed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), and the Ontario Ministry of Health. This means that you can receive one of these vaccine products for your first dose and the other vaccine product for your second dose.

“Mixing” vaccines is not a new concept. For example, similar vaccines from different manufacturers are sometimes used to complete a vaccine series for influenza, hepatitis A and other illnesses. All Health Canada approved vaccines are safe to interchange and you will still gain safe and highly effective protection against the COVID-19 virus, including the variants of concern, when mixing these products.

Know which vaccine to expect at HPPH clinics

All clinics on the HPPH website now show which vaccine is expected to be administered. If you would like to receive a specific vaccine, then book into an HPPH clinic that offers that vaccine. However, due to supply changes, we cannot always guarantee the availability of a specific product.  In that case, we will offer an appropriate alternative. You can then decide if you wish to proceed and receive the vaccine.

If you want to rebook into a different clinic, you must first cancel your current appointment.

• To cancel your appointment, go to www.hpph.ca/vaccinebooking and choose the Click Here to Cancel your Appointment box. You can also call the booking line at 1-833-753-2098; press 2 (two). Please include your first and last name and the date, time, and location of your scheduled appointment.
• We thank all those who are cancelling unneeded appointments to help make these appointments available to others.

How to book an appointment:

• HPPH does not book second dose appointments when you get your first dose. You must book your second dose once you are eligible.
• Use the HPPH second dose calculator to find out when you can receive your second dose.
• Once you know your earliest appointment date, visit the HPPH booking system at www.hpph.ca/vaccinebooking or call 1-833-753-2098 for available clinics.
  • If your earliest possible second dose date falls within the date range of an upcoming HPPH clinic, please book an appointment. If clinics are not yet available during the time you are due for your second dose, please check back for future clinics.
  • You can also subscribe to the booking webpage to get alerts when new clinics are added.
  • If you received your first dose through your primary care provider or at an HPPH community clinic, and are eligible for a shortened dose interval, please go ahead and book at an HPPH community clinic for your second dose.
  • Please be patient as large volume of website traffic and call volume can significantly slow down our systems and ability to get back to people quickly.

For more information:

• www.hpph.ca/SecondDose
• www.hpph.ca/vaccinebooking
• Follow us at www.facebook.com/HuronPerthPublicHealth and www.twitter.com/HPPublicHealth
• Call HPPH at 1-888-221-2133

Media Contact: communications@hpph.ca