Everyone is eager to return to “the lives we had before the pandemic,” but now is not the time to “throw caution to the wind,” says Dr. Karim Kurji, York Region’s medical officer of health.
Kurji’s note of caution came as the Region of York crossed the threshold of 75 per cent of residents aged 12 and up receiving their first dose of a COVID-19, with nearly a quarter of the region’s eligible population having received a second dose.
“The warmer weather is upon us and many of us are eager to get out to enjoy it,” says Kurji. “With many businesses opening as permitted in step one of the Provincial Roadmap to Reopen, I want to take a moment to remind residents while we are excited to begin our recovery, we must continue to follow all public health measures to keep our community safe.
“Sit on a patio, enjoy some outdoor recreation, and please support local businesses, but keep in mind now is not the time to throw caution to the wind. Please continue to wash your hands, physically distance from others, wear a mask, and get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible.
“Everyone is eager to return to the lives we had before the pandemic, but we must be patient for a little while longer. If we continue to practise these public health measures, it will help move us to the next step in the provincial framework, reopen further, and eventually be able to loosen the public health restrictions we have been following.”
The next step on that road to recovery came with a further expansion of vaccine eligibility June 25 to anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in York Region who received their first dose of either vaccine on or before May 30.
By June 28, eligibility in York Region will be extended further to anyone 18+ who lives, works or goes to school in York Region to book their second shots “at least 28 days after the first dose.”
“With respect to second doses, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has stated it is preferred to receive the same vaccine you received for your first dose; however, should that particular vaccine not be available at the time of your second dose, it is safe to mix mRNA vaccines,” said Dr. Kurji. “Individuals who received AstraZeneca as their first dose are now eligible to book a second dose of AstraZeneca at participating pharmacies or primary care clinics, or an mRNA vaccine at participating pharmacies, primary care clinics or mass vaccination clinics. It is an eight-week interval with informed consent.
“NACI is advising it is preferable to have an mRNA vaccine as a second dose for those that received AstraZeneca as their first dose.”
Brock Weir is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter for The Auroran
