Ontario could be eyeing a two-dose summer after all.

Signs are pointing to the province accelerating its vaccine timeline, meaning that Ontarians could get their second jab prior to the 16-week interval that had previously been scheduled.

York Region's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Karim Kurji, said Thursday morning that the province has given a heads up about accelerated timelines for vaccines. "They have given us the heads up they will hopefully be moving in that direction as of next week with the over-80 age group and then subsequently moving down to the over-70 age group," he said at York Regional Council.

That could represent a significant acceleration of the vaccine schedule, a sign of hope for Ontarians hoping to return to pre-pandemic activities sooner rather than later.

"We are currently working through the logistics of this particular move with the objective of being fair and causing the minimal confusion," he continued, adding that the region is "evaluating different options" for administration.

A government source told QP Briefing on background that the province is planning to give a vaccine update tomorrow and will share more details about the rollout at that time.

The news about potentially broadening the administration of second doses comes as Ontario is in a rush to get expiring AstraZeneca vaccines out the door. The province reduced the interval for AstraZeneca second doses from 12 to 10 weeks, and due to concerns about blood clotting issues stopped administering first doses.

According to the province, the responsibility for storing AstraZeneca vaccines at appropriate temperatures rests with pharmacies and public health units, and 5,000 doses have completed quality control and are being delivered to Toronto sites Thursday. Another 12,000 doses are expected to be cleared and delivered Friday.

At an online panel organized by the Ontario Medical Association Wednesday, Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious disease specialist at Sinai Health System, said that the AstraZeneca vaccine efficacy should be strong at a 10-week interval. "I can tell you that 12 weeks is better than four weeks. But I can't tell you is whether 10 weeks is better than eight weeks or 12 weeks is better than 10 weeks."

There are other signs of hope as Ontario tries to turn the corner.

With an increase in supply, particularly the steady stream of Pfizer vaccines that have been delivered through May, Ontario has made progress in its vaccination efforts. Almost 54 per cent of the population has received at least one dose, although the data does not enable that to be filtered to the adult population alone. Ontario has also seen declining case numbers for daily COVID-19 cases, which were at 1,135 in the latest data to go along with a 3.6 per cent positivity rate in testing. However, intensive care unit occupancy remains persistently high, at 650. The province does not expect to enter step one of its new three-step reopening plan until June 14 at the earliest, provided certain metrics are met.

"Our situation in Ontario is improving," said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams. He added that Ontario has "some work to do" but he's hopeful that the province will be able to implement its step program on June 14.

For the first time, Williams specified that he would like to see no more than 500 to 600 daily new Ontario COVID-19 cases, about half of where the province is right now, before entering that process. Previously Williams had referred to a more broad standard of "well under" 1,000.

Williams also pointed to additional Moderna vaccines expected next month, advising Ontarians that this vaccine is effective in the same way Pfizer is and that the public is best served when people don't hold out for their preferred vaccine.

Chief Coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer also responded to questions about administering second doses. "We've been carefully planning a second dose rollout," he said at an afternoon press conference. He explained that the planning for that rollout takes into consideration clinical evidence as well as vaccine supply in an overall provincial view.

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario CEO Doris Grinspun backed the idea of expanding the vaccine rollouts to second doses. She called for two parallel tracks, subject to supply, one for people aged 12 and older to get their first shots, and the other for people 60 and older to receive their second.

"There are enough vaccines," she said, referring to the projected steady supply from Pfizer and the expected boost in Moderna. "The only thing will be logistics."

But she renewed her call for Williams to be replaced, saying that the province's top doctor doesn't have the confidence of the RNAO following his endorsement of reopening schools for in-person learning. She contended that "nothing has changed" in schools, that it would be "irresponsible" to return at this time, and that Williams is not the person to prepare schools to be ready to open in September.

Premier Doug Ford is appealing for a consensus among stakeholders on how to handle the schools issue, which you can read more about here.

Vaccine strategy update on Friday could mean a two-dose summer for many

Read this for free.