Health Canada has authorized the use of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID vaccine as a booster shot for people 18 and older.
Northwestern Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kit Young Hoon, says this was a key recommendation by the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations.
Boosters are available to those in high-risk categories if they had their second dose in May 2021 or earlier, including:
- Anyone aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier)
- First Nation, Inuit, and Métis adults and their family/household members aged 16 or older
- People who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (2 doses of AstraZeneca or 1 dose of Janssen)
- Health care workers (including first responders like police and fire) aged 16 or older
- People living in a retirement home, elder care lodge, or those living in a congregate setting for seniors, including designated essential caregivers in congregate settings
The shots will be administered at least six months after the first two vaccine doses and will be rolled out throughout the month at public clinics.
Dr. Young Hoon says studies suggest a booster dose produces a very good immune response that is higher than the response after the primary shots.
She adds the booster dose has a favourable safety profile and provides good short-term protection against infection.
To book an appointment, please visit https://clinicreservation.com/book-now or call 1-866-468-2240.
Once the vaccine is approved for children aged 5-11, this age group will be the top priority for the health unit’s vaccination clinics.
It is expected that the vaccine will be available to children in December.
