Pfizer Friday: Peel Region to administer mRNA vaccine this week following supply delay

By Lucas Casaletto

Peel Region’s top doctor says the public health unit has secured enough Pfizer vaccines to begin re-administering the mRNA treatment at all of its mass clinics on Friday.

A delay in shipments has left many residents eligible for a second shot mixing vaccines and receiving Moderna in recent weeks.

Unfortunately, this has led to some people being treated with Pfizer for their first dose refusing Moderna as a second shot.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lawrence Loh says that the one-day “event” will give people the opportunity to get the Pfizer shot if they so choose but reaffirmed that both shots offer the same level of protection.

“As supply improves, we are going to start offering special dose days to ensure that those who are delaying based on the basis of brand, and not science, can access protection,” Dr. Loh said Thursday.

“Tomorrow, we will launch our first ‘Pfizer Friday’ at all of our mass clinics. This will be by appointment only and no walk-ins will be allowed but all Region of Peel public health clinics tomorrow will be offering Pfizer.”

Loh has been outspoken about the safety of mixing these two vaccines in particular, as both Pfizer and Moderna used the same technology and are mRNA vaccines.

In June, when the province was first hit with a delay in Pfizer shipments, the top doctor said candidly, “Whether you are getting your first dose or your second dose, remember that mRNA is mRNA.”

He has also said that anyone refusing a vaccine hoping to hold out for another is leaving themselves and their families partially unprotected while prolonging reopening efforts.

“I want to be very clear that this is in supporting brand as opposed to science and we will announce such occasional events of social dose days where supply permits us to do so,” he said.

“Otherwise, I encourage everyone to remember that the products are equivalent and I thank you for getting two doses of the product as quickly as possible.”

Despite mixed messaging from the World Health Organization, Ontario health officials said this week that vaccine mixing is safe and continues to be encouraged.

On Tuesday, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe says the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s (NACI) initial recommendation to mix doses was based on several clinical studies from the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany that showed strong immune responses.

“[The] mixing of mRNA vaccines, as well as AstraZeneca and mRNA, is safe and effective and enables people to get their second doses sooner,” said Yaffe.

In mid-June, NACI advised that people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose should get Pfizer or Moderna for their second shot.

Loh says that the difference in vaccine brands is “academic”, referring to the current situation in countries like Australia, which are stuck in a cycle of lockdowns while seeing an increase in mortality rates due to a lack of vaccines.

“We are fortunate, Ontario, that we actually have vaccine availability and increasing coverage and that we continue to take a cautious approach to emerge from the acute phase of the pandemic,” the top doctor added.

“It means that so many more of us can get protected, and get protected quickly, using every available product and it gives us hope that when we reopen, we reopen for good and that the chain between cases and severity is fully broken.”

Ontario is set to move into Step 3 of its reopening plan on Friday, which will allow for indoor dining, among the easing of other restrictions.

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