Moderna’s Omicron booster vaccine expected to arrive in Ontario next week

Ontario’s health minister says the province expects to receive the first delivery of the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine that protects against the Omicron variant next week.

Health Canada today approved the new shot from Moderna, which targets both the original strain of the novel coronavirus and the original Omicron variant.

Sylvia Jones says the Ontario government has been working with public health units to make sure doses are ready to be administered once they receive them from the federal government.

Jones says initial shipments will be limited, and those most vulnerable — such as long-term care residents and staff — will receive the vaccine first.

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Jones says they’ll share a wider rollout plan once additional doses are confirmed to be en route.

Health Canada says there will be enough supply of the shots — called bivalent vaccines — for all Canadians 18 and older to get a dose this fall and winter.

Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Howard Njoo, says Canada has pre-purchased 12 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine, and shipments will begin in the coming days.

Pfizer has also applied for approval of an Omicron booster, and it’s still under review.

Dr. Njoo acknowledged that in the future, Canadians might be heading to a situation similar to flu vaccines, where shots will change on a regular basis depending on which strain is spreading in the population.

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With files from Cormac Mac Sweeney