Ontarians 70-and-up eligible for bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, 18+ on September 26

Ontario’s government says the new bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine is available to vulnerable residents and everyone over the age of 70, with all remaining adults eligible as of September 26.

However, the Ford government says to allow for “convenient planning and preparation,” adults 18-and-up who do not belong to a priority population can start booking their appointments today.

The Ford government made the announcement on Monday following guidance from Health Canada and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, strongly encourages every adult in Ontario to get the new booster shot, specifically targeting the Omicron variant.

“The bivalent COVID-19 booster is a safe and effective way for people to better protect themselves against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variants in Ontario,” Dr. Moore said Monday.

“As vaccine protection decreases over time, I encourage all Ontarians aged five and over to receive the booster dose they are eligible for.”

RELATED: As fall COVID-19 surge looms, is it worth waiting for an Omicron-tailored vaccine?

Starting today, Dr. Moore says COVID-19 booster appointments can be made for the most vulnerable populations.

This includes adults over the age of 70, residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and individuals living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services, moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and up, pregnant adults over 18, and all health care workers.

First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over are eligible as of Monday.

Vaccine availability is dependent on shipments from the federal government. The province received its first shipment of the shots last week.

The province notes that all previously-booked booster appointments for September 12 to 25 will be honoured, and, if available, the bivalent vaccine will be offered to all residents over the age of 18.

Dr. Moore says eligible adults can receive the bivalent booster at the recommended interval of at least six months from their previous dose, regardless of how many boosters they have already received.

That appears to be a reversal from the summer when Dr. Moore told CityNews that the previous booster shots would not preclude Ontarians from another follow-up vaccine three months later.

In July, the Chief Medical Officer of Health strongly alluded to the bivalent vaccine being available in the fall with the new formula containing an additional strain of an Omicron variant or the BA.1 or BA.5 subvariant.

That same month, Ontario started offering fourth COVID-19 vaccine shots to all adult residents.

How to book bivalent vaccine appointments

Appointments can be booked through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

Ontario’s government says eligible adults can also book an appointment directly through public health units that use their booking systems, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating health care providers and participating pharmacies.

Pregnant people and health care workers booking an appointment from September 12 to 25 must call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre or book booster dose appointments through select pharmacies.

The province noted that long-term care, retirement home, and Elder Care Lodge residents might receive their bivalent booster dose directly through their congregate home.

Syringes and a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are displayed on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Rick West/Daily Herald via AP)

Ontario’s Minister of Health says it’s essential for everyone to keep up to date with vaccines as respiratory illnesses become more common in the colder months.

“COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are the best tools to keep people healthy and out of hospitals, and to ensure Ontario’s economy stays open as kids go back to school and as the weather cools and people spend more time indoors,” Sylvia Jones said.

Health Canada approved Moderna’s new Spikevax bivalent vaccine for use in adults 18 years of age and older earlier this month. It’s the first bivalent Omicron-containing mRNA vaccine authorized for use in Canada.

The Pfizer-BioNTech Omicron-specific bivalent vaccine is still being reviewed by Health Canada.

Toronto ready to administer new booster

Toronto Public Health (TPH) says its health officials are prepared for the next bivalent vaccine rollout, noting that vaccine appointments became available for those eligible at 8 a.m. on Monday.

TPH says adults over 18 can book appointments for September 26 and after.

Where to get vaccinated in Toronto

Clinical trial results showed that a booster dose of the Moderna Spikevax bivalent vaccine triggers a strong immune response against Omicron and the original COVID-19 strain.

TPH says due to widespread circulation of the Omicron variant, many residents 12 years and older may have been previously infected with COVID-19.

Torontonians can get vaccinated at city-run immunization clinics, primary care offices and over 525 pharmacies — anticipated to start Monday, September 19.

With files from Meredith Bond of CityNews