(Eagle News) — On July 8, Ontario, Canada reported that more than half of adults in the province have received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose due to an increase in supply and the ability to now combine vaccines. Since May of this year, the province began accelerating second dose appointments.

On July 5, as part of Step 2 in the Roadmap to Reopen, Ontario also expanded its second dose eligibility to individuals aged 12 and older, now surpassing its projected target date for accelerated doses by the end of August 2021.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliot gave an update on Twitter, stating that 16,395,063 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to Ontarians, creating a new record for the province.

In Toronto, Canada’s largest city and Ontario’s capital, Mayor John Tory announced that the city has also reached a new milestone in Team Toronto’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Adults in the 18-24 age group show the highest percentage of vaccination rates with nearly 90% of individuals in Toronto receiving their first dose, and the 25-29 age group at second, with nearly 84%.

Mayor Tory continues to emphasize the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and that combining the vaccines are safe.

As of July 8, Ontario reports a total of 1,816 active cases to which 52 are in the Waterloo Region, 23 in Peel Region, 19 in Hamilton, 18 in Toronto, and 17 in Grey Bruce. As Ontario prepares for Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen, Ontarians are continually encouraged to sign up for their COVID-19 vaccines if they haven’t already.

(Eagle News Service)