Journal Staff
Sarnia-Lambton residents ages 18 and older who received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days ago can now book second dose appointments, Lambton Public Health said today.
Online booking is recommended, and additional clinics will be opened as vaccine supply is confirmed, the health unit said.
Those unable to book online can call the Vaccine Call Centre from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
226-254-8222.
Call volumes are extremely high at this time and those who can’t get through are urged to call back.
Because of the unpredictability of vaccine shipments, Lambton Public Health is no longer able to guarantee individuals will receive a particular vaccine brand for either their first or second dose, it said.
The approved mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) being used at the local mass immunization clinics are interchangeable, according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
If you had Moderna or Pfizer for your first dose, you can safely take either Moderna or Pfizer for your second dose for strong protection. Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use a similar mRNA technology and are safe to mix, the NACI says.
An mRNA vaccine is now recommended as a second dose for those who had Astra Zeneca as a first dose. The only exception is 12 to 17-year-olds, for whom Pfizer is the only approved vaccine.
“Individuals are permitted to cancel their appointments if they’re unhappy that we cannot guarantee a specific vaccine brand, but doing so puts them at risk of contracting the disease and slows the overall progress and momentum of returning the community back to normal,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade, Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health.
As of today, 71.9% of adults and 17.5% of youth (aged 0-17) in Sarnia-Lambton have received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
A total of 28.1% of residents are fully vaccinated with two doses.
