Ontarians 50-and-up eligible for COVID-19 booster shots starting Dec. 13
Posted December 2, 2021 5:33 am.
Last Updated December 2, 2021 5:35 pm.
The Ford government has ramped up the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to anyone 50-and-up amid the arrival of the new Omicron variant.
Starting on December 13 at 8 a.m., government officials say third-dose appointments can be booked through the COVID-19 vaccination portal by calling the “Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre,” Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, and select pharmacies and primary care settings.
Appointments will be booked approximately six months (168 days) after a second dose. People receiving dialysis are also eligible for third COVID-19 vaccine doses if it’s been 56 days since their second shot.
“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,” said Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore.
“If you have not yet received the vaccine, please do so today. This includes vaccinations for children aged five to 11. 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.”
Starting in January, Dr. Moore says the province will further expand eligibility for booster doses based on age and risk, with an interval of six-to-eight months from the second dose.
Currently, individuals 70-and-up are eligible for booster shots, as well as anyone who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The province is now recommending people who are receiving cell treatments following therapy or a transplant get vaccinated again with both shots because of lost immunity.
Take away from Dr. Moore newser:
5.3 million more people eligible for booster w expanding to 50 and up
No data yet if booster will help fight off Omicron (he believes vaccines will offer some protection)
12.7% of 5-11 vaccinated, hopes to hit 50% by January— Cynthia Mulligan (@CityCynthia) December 2, 2021
As part of Thursday’s announcement, Ontario’s government also says limited doses of the single-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine are now offered to adults with allergies to mRNA shots or unvaccinated people who contact their local public health unit.
Earlier this week, Health Minister Christine Elliott said an update on the province’s booster rollout was expected in the coming days.
“We have taken every precaution possible,” Elliott said Tuesday when asked about the Omicron variant during question period at the Ontario legislature. “We are ready for whatever might happen. We have a very robust testing strategy.”
This comes amidst a rising presence of the Omicron variant globally and in the province. Durham Region Public Health confirmed Thursday that one person has tested positive for the variant of concern.
The case is a close contact of a returning traveller from one of the identified countries in southern Africa. Four Omicron cases have also been found in Ottawa, and other cases have been confirmed in British Columbia, Alberta and Québec.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has named Omicron a variant of concern and many countries have implemented travel measures to contain it, though not much is yet known about its characteristics.
Dr. Moore said Monday the government was reviewing measures in light of the rapidly evolving variant. The province is currently working on administering the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to children aged five to 11 after they became eligible last week.
CityNews contacted public health units in Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Durham Region to learn how vaccine clinics can be scaled up to meet increased demand.
While the details of who could be added to Ontario’s list weren’t publicly known on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Toronto Public Health said in a statement that capacity exists within the municipality’s mass immunization clinics to provide doses. Still, they also pointed to pharmacy, hospital clinic and primary care provider options as alternatives.
Meanwhile, a Durham Region Health Department spokesperson wrote staff have been planning to respond to directions on boosters.
“We have planned for staffing and can do this in a timely manner based on direction from the province. We understand there are enough supplies from the province for any planned third doses/boosters,” the statement said.
“At this time, our priority continues to be focused on vaccination for the five-to-11-year-old population as directed by the province, and we will continue to focus on this group while addressing the needs of additional eligibility groups as announced.”
Responses from the York and Peel regions weren’t received by the time of publication.
With files from The Canadian Press. Meredith Bond and Nick Westoll of CityNews contributed to this report.
