York Region Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Vaccine | The Canadian News

The York region is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 booster doses as the virus continues to spread widely throughout the region.

In a press release issued Friday afternoon, the City of York said it is expanding eligibility for booster doses to people 18 years of age and older if it has been at least three months (84 days) since they received their last dose.

Last month, the region restricted booster doses to those over 50.

“To date, the York Region Public Health COVID-19 booster strategy has emphasized providing additional protection to those at increased risk of serious illness and hospitalization, and together with our partners, we have successfully vaccinated more than half of this population over 50 years of age “. Dr. Barry Pakes, York Region Medical Health Officer, said in the statement.

Pakes said the region will also create priority appointments for those in the education sector “as part of our support for the return to in-person learning.”

According to the release, on January 10 at 8:30 AM ET, approximately 30,000 booster dose appointments will be available at all York Region COVID-19 clinics to:

• People over 18 years of age
• Health workers and designated essential caregivers in congregated settings, such as nursing home and nursing home staff and designated caregivers.
• Those who received a full series of a viral vector vaccine, such as two doses of AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• People who received a vaccine not approved by Health Canada.
• First Nations, Inuit, or Métis adults and non-indigenous household members 16 years of age or older.

People 12 years of age and older who are moderately to severely immunosuppressed are also eligible to receive their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least 56 days since their last dose.

The municipality says that those who are eligible can book an appointment online or by phone at 1-877-464-9675. According to the release, booster doses will be offered by appointment only.

Appointments for a booster dose are also available at some pharmacies and through Ontario provincial reserve system.

According to the municipality, the Moderna Spikevax vaccine is offered to those over 30 years of age.

The statement said that Pfizer vaccines for adults will be provided at “select clinics” for people between the ages of 18 and 29.

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