4-month gap between COVID-19 vaccine shots could be reduced, some AZ doses may go to waste
by Dilshad Burman
Last Updated May 17, 2021 at 6:20 pm EDT
A COVID-19 vaccine is prepared in Toronto, ON (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Ontario health officials say they are hopeful the current four-month interval between COVID-19 vaccine doses will be reduced as vaccine supply increases and more people get their first shots.
Provincial medical officer of health Dr. David Williams said the decision to increase the interval of the vaccines from the manufacturer recommended three or four weeks to four months was made to ensure “maximum benefit in the shortest time, with everybody getting one dose.”
Ontario Health Officials Provide COVID-19 Update – May 17, 2021
In Toronto, Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, and Dr. Barbara Yaffe, associate chief medical officer of health, provide an update on the province’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. The update comes as the province announces that vaccine eligibility will be expanded to everyone aged 18 and older on May 18, one week ahead of schedule. The widened eligibility is due to an increase in vaccine supply this week, with 2.2 million doses scheduled to arrive.
Article content
Ontario passed another grim pandemic milestone on Thursday when the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of people with COVID-19 passed the 500,000 mark.
The province reported 2,759 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases since January, 2020 to 502,171.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser. COVID-19: Ontario passes 500,000 cases; People 40 and over, other groups can book vaccinations Back to video
There were 31 new deaths reported in the province, bringing the total to 8,405.
Thursday’s report saw the hot spot of Toronto reporting the most new cases (74); followed by Peel (602); York (258); Durham (147) and Hamilton (133). Thirty one more people have died.
Stay-at-home order extended 2 weeks provincewide until June 2
by Lucas Casaletto, Michael Ranger
Posted May 13, 2021 8:15 am EDT
Last Updated May 13, 2021 at 3:12 pm EDT
Ontario’s government is extending the provincewide stay-at-home order for an additional two weeks until at least June 2 with outdoor amenities and schools staying closed in the meantime.
The announcement comes with current stay-at-home and lockdown measures set to expire on May 20.
The stay-at-home order requires everyone to remain at home except for specified purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely.
Article content
Ontario’s stay-at-home order and other emergency pandemic restrictions will remain in place until at least June 2, says Premier Doug Ford.
He said the province must “stay the course” to stop the raging spread of contagious virus variants by keeping in place public-health measures that are slowly bringing down case counts of COVID-19.
The province must continue to drive down COVID-19 cases in order to ease the pressure on hospitals, he said at a news conference on Thursday.
The province’s stay-at-home order was invoked on April 17 was was set to expire on May 19.
“Just hang in there,” said Ford, for a couple more weeks, and Ontarians may be able to enjoy a more normal summer.