Ontario expanding third dose COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to 50+ in mid-December
Ontario will be expanding third dose COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in mid-December, allowing individuals aged 50 and up to get the booster shot.
Individuals in this age group will be able to book their appointments starting at 8 a.m. on Dec. 13 through the provincial vaccine portal or call centre, at a pharmacy or at their family doctor's office. Ontarians must wait at least six months after they get their second dose to get the booster.
The province also released further instruction for high-risk immunocompromised individuals, saying that people receiving dialysis are eligible to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of today—as long as it has been 56 days since their second shot. Officials recommend that people who receive hematopoietic stem cell transplants, hematopoietic cell transplants, and recipients of CAR-T-cell therapy be "re-vaccinated" due to "loss of immunity following therapy or transplant."
A limited supply of single dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will also be available as of Thursday for adults who have had an allergy or cannot get a mRNA vaccine for a medical reason.
It can also be requested by an individual who has not yet been vaccinated through a public health unit, officials say.
“If you are eligible for a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please book your appointment as soon as you can to provide yourself with an extra layer of protection,” Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said. "Achieving the highest vaccination rates possible remains our best tool to protect us, reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, and fight the significant surge of new cases and the new Omicron variant.”
As of Thursday, there are five cases of the Omicron variant in Ontario, including one case in Durham Region.
Moore added that while he is still waiting on data regarding the efficacy of vaccination against Omicron, he does believe there will be some evidence of protection.
"Our main enemy right now is Delta. It's 99.9 per cent of the strains that we're identifying in Ontario and we know this vaccine has significant benefits in protecting against hospitalization," he said. "so our strategy really is to maximally protect all Ontarians with first, second and third doses given that Delta is our enemy. I do hope and wish that it gives us also protection against Omicron, but I have to be completely honest that we don't have the science to make that statement yet."
Ontario's current guidelines limits booster shots to certain high-risk populations, including those over the age of 70, residents in long-term care and retirement homes, individuals who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, people who are immunocompromised, and Indigenous people.
The CEO of Ontario's Pharmacists Association said Thursday morning that he would recommend opening up eligibility to all age groups, while still adhering to the recommended six-month timeline.
"That will allow us to do this in a staggered fashion, manage the demand and supply and make sure everybody has optimal immunity and efficacy of the vaccines against the variants because the immunity does wane after six months. We know that from the current data and that's why boosters are going to be so important."
However, Moore said the province wants to ensure it has the capacity to offer booster shots along with vaccinated children prior to removing all age restrictions.
"I really want the over 70s in particular to come forward as we know they're most at risk of fading immunity and a risk for transmission. In these next 10 days you will be well protected for the holiday season and children will get the maximum benefit of being immunized in the next 10 days for the holiday season as well." Moore said.
"So to me these next 10 days we build capacity to ensure that those populations have the opportunity to get immunized. We then build capacity for the next vulnerable group, the over 60 and over 50s on (Dec. 13)."
As of Monday, the province was sitting on a supply of 3.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
The government has said that booster shots would be available gradually to the general public based on age and risk factors starting in early 2022.
Officials say that more than 696,000 third doses have been administered in Ontario so far.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.