All COVID-19 vaccine boosters will now be bivalent shots

The province announced on Monday that the new bivalent COVID-19 booster shot that also provides protection against the Omicron variant would be available to all adults as of Sept. 26.

However, many have not yet rolled up their sleeves for the original booster shot, and there’s been some confusion about which shot to take and when.

Which vaccine booster are we getting?

Toronto’s Associate Medical Officer of Health explains that they’re “wiping the slate clean” this fall.

“If your last booster, whatever number it was, was three to six months ago, the booster you get now is the bivalent vaccine,” says Dr. Vinita Dubey.

She confirms that the bivalent booster is replacing the original formula and will be the one recommended from now on. However, you still need to take the primary series of two vaccine doses with the original vaccine.

“If you haven’t had your two doses, you need to start there. As long as this is your first booster, your second booster, your third, your fourth, whatever number it is for your booster, everyone 18 and up can get this bivalent vaccine,” she says.

Dr. Dubey adds that the bivalent booster has enhanced protections that could work against future variants.

“The studies showed that this vaccine will provide a stronger immune response to BA.1, BA.4, BA.5 And so even if the next variant is not any of these, we’ve seen that the vaccines can provide cross-protection that protects us even against new variants,” she explains.

When should we take the latest booster shot?

In a statement to CityNews, the Ministry of Health says:

“All eligible Ontarians are encouraged to stay up to date with their vaccinations and to receive a bivalent booster at the recommended interval of six months since their last dose, regardless of how many boosters they have already received. Eligible Ontarians can also receive a booster dose at the minimum interval of three months since their last dose.”

Dr. Dubey clarifies that a minimum interval of three months will elicit the best immune response. While you can wait for up to six months, she advises against it.

“I would recommend the shorter interval because we are now going into the fall. We know two years into this pandemic, every fall and winter, we have a spike in COVID activity,” she says.

“It’s all about really trying to time when is the best vaccine for you based on your previous doses and what COVID-19 activity is like. If we’re in the middle of a wave, don’t wait the full six months. Get it at that at that three-months mark.”

She adds that the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has recommended that everyone from age five and up take a fall booster shot, as long as it has been at least three months since their last shot.

“So yes, even if you got a booster in the summer … somewhere in this fall, you’re going to want to make sure you get that vaccine,” she notes.

Dr. Dubey says even if you have only taken the primary series and did not opt for any boosters, she strongly encourages everyone to take the new vaccine booster.

“This is the one booster … that I think everyone should get. They’re going to want to get it,” she says.

“We’re also back at regular life, regular activities. And we don’t have masks all the time. We’re not physically distanced. We don’t have all of those other measures in place. So this is another very good reason to get this bivalent vaccine this fall.”