Ontario considers expanding second booster shots as COVID-19’s sixth wave surges

Ontario is considering wider eligibility for second COVID-19 booster shots as the province experiences a 22 per cent surge in confirmed new cases over the last seven days.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province is awaiting new guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

“We’re waiting for NACI’s advice—that should come later today—about what age group should be receiving the fourth vaccination, if necessary,” she told the legislature’s question period on Thursday.

“We are actively moving on this and we’re continuing with our plan across the province of Ontario.”

Earlier this week, the United States cleared the way for anyone over 50 to get a second booster shot, providing they are four months past their first booster. President Joe Biden was among the first recipients.

Opposition parties accused Premier Doug Ford’s government and chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore of lying low as a sixth wave of the pandemic grows in the wake of decisions to lift vaccine passport requirements and mandatory masking in most indoor public spaces.

“Their complete silence is very disconcerting,” said New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath. “We need some guidance from the government right now… it’s pretty much a hands-off approach.”

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are up 27 per cent in the last week. The science table has estimated the province is seeing about 30,000 new infections daily, based on wastewater sampling.

While Moore had warned infection levels would increase as restrictions were lifted and advised Ontarians to keep wearing masks voluntarily, several local medical officers of health have been issuing statements in the last few days pointing to deteriorating conditions.

“The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal is very high and increasing,” said Ottawa’s medical officer, Dr. Vera Etches. “Hospitalizations and outbreaks are currently stable however we know these are lagging indicators and wastewater levels can provide an early signal of trends to follow.”

Ottawa is contacting people over 50 who need second or third doses of vaccine, and advising people to wear masks indoors “especially when physical distancing many not be possible or proves to be challenging in crowded areas.”

Liberal House Leader John Fraser said the government is “trying to pretend like COVID’s over” with the June 2 election approaching and the official campaign to kick off in the first week of May.

Fourth doses as booster shots are a good idea, “but half the people haven’t had a third dose,” he added, referring to a booster rate of 58 per cent.

Fraser called for a better strategy to get first booster shots into more Ontarians, and first and second shots into children ages five to 11.

“Where is a plan to get our vaccination rates up to where we need to be, because it’s the most important thing we can do right now.”

Elliott said 90.9 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and older have had two doses. Booster shots have been given to 7.1 million people.

Second booster shots are currently available to chemotherapy patients, as well as residents of nursing homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings, and the immunocompromised over age 12.