CATV

Ontario is still offering residents who took a first dose of AstaZeneca the option of receiving a second dose of the same vaccine.

New advice has emerged out of the the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) that the “preferred” second vaccine for those who took AstraZeneca or the equivalent COVIDSHIELD would be an mRNA vaccine — Pfizer or Moderna.

Alexandra Hilkene, a spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott, said AstraZeneca vaccine is currently available for those who wish to receive it as a second dose, with informed consent, through select pharmacy and primary care channels.

“All COVID-19 vaccines available in the province, including AstraZeneca, have been determined to be safe and effective by Health Canada, and have been shown to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death associated with COVID-19,” Hilkene said in a statement Friday.