Booster doses!

 

We need an update!

Booster dose( third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine) eligibility

At this time, third doses will or have been offered to the following groups.

1/ Residents in long-term care homes, retirement homes, elder care lodges, assisted-living facilities and chronic care hospitals. There has to be a minimum of 5 months since the second dose of vaccine. Public health is administering doses to these people in their place of residence.

2/ All Ontarians aged 70 and older (including those born in 1951 who will turn 70 in 2021). You must be a minimum of six months following your second dose. Public health is currently calling residents to book an appointment as they become eligible. You may also book an appointment online at this link:

https://wdgpublichealth.inputhealth.com/ebooking#new

3/ Healthcare workers- the list of eligible workers is long. Check it out here:

https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-public/covid-19-vaccine-information/booster-dose-eligibility

4/ First Nation, Inuit and Metis adults

5/ Individuals who received two doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine or 1 dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine ( both viral vector vaccines). You must be at minimum, six months since your second dose. People who received an Astrazeneca vaccine followed by either a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are not yet eligible for a third dose.

For groups outlined in 2, 3, 4 and 5, book your third dose online using this link but please make you meet the eligibility criteria.

https://wdgpublichealth.inputhealth.com/ebooking#new

People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are also eligible for a third dose. You need a signed referral from from your doctor. Take this from with you to the public health vaccine clinic. You need a minimum of 2 months since your second dose. You can find a complete list of people who qualify under this group at this link:

https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-public/covid-19-vaccine-information/booster-dose-eligibility

Why is a booster dose necessary at this time? People over the age of 70 or people who have illnesses/ take medications that suppress their immune systems may not have mounted a strong enough immune response to the first two vaccines leaving them at risk for COVID-19 infection. The evidence shows that these groups mount a robust immune response after a third dose.

Will the rest of the population require a third dose? The antibodies produced against COVID-19 start to decrease 6 months after the second dose. But, in healthy people, the immune system is still able to 'recognize' and attack the virus well after 6 months. A third dose will likely be recommended in younger, healthy people at some point in the new year in an age related sequence much like the system used for the first two vaccines.

Vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 have been approved for use in the USA and children started receiving the Pfizer vaccine this week. It is anticipated that Health Canada will approve the use of the Pfizer vaccine in children 5 to 11 years of age by the end of this month with the administration of these vaccines starting as early as the end of December. We will learn much more about how and where these vaccines will be given in the coming weeks.

Should your child receive the vaccine? Two answers; yes and definitely. I will review the reasons why in upcoming posts. The Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective in kids as proven by a trial in 4,000 children. That is large enough to prove efficacy and safety. Post-marketing studies or studies done that involve children who are now receiving the vaccine in the USA will help to reassure parents. Millions will have been vaccinated by the time these vaccines are offered to children in Canada.

We have lots of time to ask questions about COVID vaccinations in kids. Our next 'Finding the Balance during COVID-19' webinar on November 23rd will focus on this topic.

Stay tuned. Lot's more to come.

Anne-Marie

Please share.

We are assisting in the roll out of COVID vaccines in Lesotho. If you would like to be apart of this vitally important work towards making sure that vaccines are distributed in resource poor countries like Lesotho, you can donate here:

https://www.braceletofhope.ca/ways-to-give/

For non-Facebook users, you can find this post here:

https://braceletofhope.blogspot.com/