Booster Manual: Everything You Need to Know About Getting COVID-19 Dose #4

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When Ontario expanded eligibility for COVID-19 boosters this week, more than 320,000 people in Ottawa became eligible for the fourth dose of the vaccine.

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Public health officials say it’s important to get all the vaccines you’re eligible for as we battle the seventh wave of the pandemic.

Infections are on the rise in Ottawa, with key indicators like the viral load in sewage and the number of people hospitalized rising.

But advice on who should get booster shots and when is nuanced and there are conflicting expert opinions.

Here is an introduction to boosters in Ontario.

Who is eligible to receive a fourth vaccine?

In Ontario, everyone between the ages of 18 and 59 can get a second booster shot. That is the fourth dose of the vaccine. The first two shots are considered the main series and the next two are reinforcements. Previously, the second booster was restricted to some groups of people based on age and health conditions.

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Where can you get it?

You can book your second booster through the province Vaccination portal COVID-19 or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Center at 1-833-943-3900. Ottawa Public Health says walk-ins are limited, so it’s best to make appointments.

OPH also says it plans to expand its vaccine community clinics and pop-up sites to meet the demand for boosters and the newly approved vaccine for young children, so check their website for updates.

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Masks are required at vaccination clinics.

How long after the first booster can he get the second?

OPH says it follows the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which says that longer intervals between doses result in a better immune response and somewhat better vaccine efficacy.

OPH offers the second booster five months (140 days) after the previous dose.

However, people can request to receive their second boosters as soon as three months (84 days) after their previous doses with informed consent.

If I decide to get my second booster sooner than five months, how do I book it?

You must call the provincial reservation line at 1-833-943-3900 between 8 am and 8 pm to make an appointment.

I am young and healthy. Should I get the fourth booster?

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This is where nuance and judgment come in. There is a scientific consensus that people at higher risk for COVID-19 should receive a fourth booster.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, said this week that people with underlying health conditions or other risk factors would benefit most from second boosters.

“It is not an obligation to receive a booster dose. If you are young and healthy and have no underlying risk to this virus, we know your risk of hospitalization is low and your level of protection (provided by the vaccine) remains relatively constant for that population,” he said.

A healthy 19-year-old who has had a booster, for example, is well protected, so a fourth injection is “not absolutely necessary at this point,” Moore said.

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The Ottawa Department of Public Health said everyone over the age of 18 should “consider” getting the fourth dose. “We are in a significant resurgence in Ottawa, which means there is a lot more transmission of COVID-19 and therefore a higher risk of exposure in the community. It will also have been many months for most since they received their first booster, and immunity wanes over time.”

People should consider their age and general health when making a decision, OPH said. The risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 increases with age or among people with chronic health conditions.

Do I have to wait until the fall to get the booster?

Moore said healthy young adults may choose to wait until the fall for a new injection to be developed that can better target Omicron subvariants.

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He also clarified the possible timeline. If a vaccine targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 variants is made, it may be November or December before it can be rolled out.

Moore said he expected a five-month interval between doses to continue.

Dr. Susy Hota, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Toronto Health Network, said people should consider getting the fourth dose sooner rather than later if there is a lot of COVID-19 activity in their community. .

Another factor is whether people are more at risk of severe cases of the virus if they catch it, or if someone in their household has it, he said.

Dr. Kashif Pirzada, an emergency room physician in Toronto, said people who received their last shot more than six months ago would benefit from another shot now.

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“Antibody protection declines over time, especially four to five months after vaccination, and (vaccines) can protect you from developing an infection in the first place and also prevent the onset of severe disease,” he said.

Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist and professor at the University of Ottawa, says it makes sense to get the booster now rather than wait, for several reasons. There is no guarantee that the new vaccines will be available in quantities this fall or that they will be better at targeting the BA.5 subvariant, for example. There is also evidence that the current fourth doses are adding protection against symptomatic illness, hospitalization and deaths, which is needed as Ontario battles the seventh wave, Deonandan said on social media.

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How long do you have to wait after having COVID-19 before getting a booster shot?

It is recommended to wait three months after having COVID-19 before getting a booster shot.

I have had COVID-19. Should I still get a booster?

Yes. Even if you have recovered from COVID-19, you are not immune and can be reinfected, contagious without showing any symptoms, and spread it to others, OPH said. “With the spread of new and communicable variants, it is important that you get vaccinated to protect yourself and those around you from serious illness, hospitalization and death.”

With Canadian Press archives

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