The booster injections will be available to Ontarions age 50 and older beginning December 13, as the province steps up the fight against COVID-19 with the arrival of the Omicron variant.
And starting right away, dialysis patients can receive booster shots if 56 days have passed after their second dose due to the increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kieran Moore said Thursday.
“Give yourself an extra layer of protection,” he advised.
Stem cell transplant recipients are now eligible as well, as are people receiving CAR T cell therapy.
Younger Ontarians can expect to get their booster shots starting in January based on age and risk, with details to be released later.
People over the age of 70 and those with several other compromised immune conditions who have been able to receive their booster shots for weeks, along with those who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, provided 168 days have passed after their second injection.
The 168 day rule also applies to those over the age of 50.
Anyone who has received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine has been encouraged to also receive a booster shot.
“Vaccines continue to be our best protection against COVID-19,” said Health Minister Christine Elliott.
“I encourage everyone to reserve their first, second, or booster doses as soon as they are eligible.”
Just over 86 percent of Ontarians over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 89.9 percent have received a dose. Children ages five to 11 are now eligible for injections and more than 100,000 doses have been given to that age group.
Ontario reported 959 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, the highest daily number since June, and eight more deaths.
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Reference-www.thestar.com