Quebecers who received Moderna, AstraZeneca vaccine can move up 2nd dose appointments

All Quebecersaged 50 and older can now move up their appointment for asecond dose, no matter which vaccine they received for their first dose.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Health MinisterChristian Dubsaid this is because theprovince is now expecting a larger vaccine shipment this month.

Younger Quebecerswill also soon be able to reschedule their second dose, via theClic Santbookingsite,as the minimum age is progressively lowered over the next week. All adults in the province will be eligible as of June 23.

The recipient must have been vaccinated a minimum of eight weeks prior,down from 16 weeks.

Dubsaid it's important Quebecerstake advantage of the vaccination window offered this summer, to have the best possible immunity come the fall.

"Vaccination is an individual effort we must make for a collective result," hesaid.

Quebec is now expecting 1.6 million Moderna doses nearly 500,000 more than recently planned by the end of the month. They will be distributed in mass vaccination clinics and pharmacies.

Quebecers who have received a first dose of AstraZenecaand who wish to change vaccines for their second dose will be able to request an mRNA vaccine,Dubadded. A decision will be made on site whether that dose will be Moderna or Pfizer, becauseboth mRNA vaccines are not always available at vaccination centres.

Those who have been vaccinated at a pharmacy are asked to change their appointment on the provincial booking site.

Can't rule out 4th wave, Dubsays

When asked about a potential fourth wavecome the fall,Dubsays the Health Ministry can't rule it out, but "vaccination is the solution."

Quebec's public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, said gettingtwo doses is the best way to keep the virus at bay, as a single dose is only33 per cent effective against the highly contagious delta variant.

He noted that the majority of new casesare seen in unvaccinated people.

Dub called on Quebecers aged 18 to 39, who have received or booked their first dose at a lower rate than those aged12 to 17, to not delay in making their appointments.

"If you are able to convince a friendto go get the vaccine, that's the thing to do in the next few weeks,Dub said.

Dubwas also asked whether the province and public health have made a decision about expanding capacity at the Bell Centre in time forMontreal Canadiens-Las Vegas Golden Knights playoff games on Friday and Sunday. He said no decision has been made yet.

Issues on booking portal

While booking slots haveopened, some Quebecersare still receiving error messages despite being eligible to shift their appointments.

"We're aware of the error on the Clic Santsite," saidDaniel Par, the province's vaccination campaign director, at the news conference.

"These issues will be settled over the next days and weeks."

Par said the issues are mostly due to a disparity in personal information or missing information when booking appointments for the first dose.

But starting today, Quebecers can use the site's "troubleshooting" option to make an appointment.