Canada’s national immunization panel is recommending that Canadians receive a COVID-19 booster in the fall if it has been at least six months since their last vaccine shot or infection. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) stated that the new formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine should be administered to individuals in authorized age groups. NACI emphasized the importance of additional doses for older adults, individuals living in long-term care homes, pregnant individuals, and those with underlying medical conditions. The panel also strongly recommended boosters for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, racialized communities, and essential workers.
The NACI chair, Dr. Shelley Deeks, stated that they anticipate the availability of new COVID-19 vaccine formulations in the fall, and they recommend that jurisdictions plan to offer a dose of the new vaccine to individuals who meet the criteria. This is because the fall and winter months tend to have a higher prevalence of respiratory viruses, putting strain on the healthcare system. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, supported this recommendation, stating that boosters will help alleviate pressure on the healthcare system and provide better protection against severe disease and currently circulating variants.
Experts suggest that now is a good time to get a booster shot if individuals have not already done so. In terms of vaccine uptake, Canada has seen a decrease or plateau in new COVID-19 cases, but vigilance is still necessary as the virus remains a threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers three priority-use groups for COVID-19 vaccination: high, medium, and low risk. While booster doses are recommended for high-priority groups, WHO does not recommend additional boosters for low and medium-risk individuals due to lower public health benefits.
Although Canada is in a better position compared to before, with vaccination efforts and decreasing cases, COVID-19 still contributes significantly to hospitalizations and deaths. It is important to stay informed and follow the guidance of health authorities.
(Note: The content has been rewritten to improve syntax, tone, and SEO while maintaining the original meaning. The HTML tags have been retained for formatting purposes.)
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
