Each Atlantic Canadian province has now taken steps to expand COVID-19 Second booster dose eligibility for a large group of residents.
However, the provinces, which have previously been definitely aligned Epidemic The measures and policies have issued differing approaches – some focused on getting the shots into the arms quickly, and others waiting until another surge occurred.
Another vaccination campaign begins when communities see the number of cases seeing an upward trend, mainly because omicron Subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
Dr Nazeem Muhajrein said, “(They) are widely considered to be more infectious and highly contagious, perhaps the most infectious subvariant of the new coronavirus we have seen since the pandemic began and potentially slightly higher than the previous subvariant.” are viral.” , an epidemiologist and professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Muhajrein said that while many expected a wave of decline, it appears to be reaching the country ahead of schedule, even without accurate data gathering.
Given the province-by-province availability for the fourth dose, he described the variability as “dizziness”, each province appears to have its own policies.
Here’s a look at how Atlantic Canadian provinces are advancing a second COVID-19 booster dose.
Nova Scotia
Public health in Nova Scotia has directed its approach to potentially softening the virus’s declining wave.
As of last week, people aged 50 to 69 were eligible for a second booster 158 days after their first booster dose.
However, Public Health indicated it is recommending that people wait until fall to get the shot, stating that the best time to receive a booster dose is “closer to the next surge of disease.”
“We’ve opened up boosters to those aged 50 to 69 because we knew there were people who wanted to get it earlier,” said Michelle Thompson, Nova Scotia’s minister of health and welfare.
“We follow the NACI guidelines, and you know, the NACI recommendation is that we wait until we get closer to the fall.”
new Brunswick
On Tuesday, New Brunswick announced it would lower age eligibility for a second COVID-19 booster to 18, recommending residents to receive it five months after their most recent dose.
A provincial news release cited the forecast for a “period of increased activity of COVID-19” as an explanation for the extension of eligibility.
“Right now there are many, many factors that are contributing to this wave, to this increase in cases, and again the message is to vaccinate with whatever dose you are prepared for, if five months after your last dose. Done,” Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health for New Brunswick, said in an interview with Global News.
Contrary to the viewpoints of other jurisdictions, those who have recently contracted COVID-19 will not have to wait three months after infection for a vaccine.
Prince Edward Island
Eligibility for a second COVID-19 booster dose in Prince Edward Island is the Atlantic provinces’ most inclusive approach.
Currently, any resident over the age of 12 is allowed to receive a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The state has maintained the requirement of six months between booster doses.
Newfoundland and Labrador
On Wednesday, Newfoundland and Labrador announced plans to expand eligibility to people aged 50 to 70.
Pharmacists and physicians will not begin vaccination for a second booster dose for this age group until next week.
Residents must wait 20 weeks before their first booster dose to be eligible.
When is the best time to take the fourth dose?
According to Muhajreen, the optimal timing of receiving this latest booster is based on various factors, including individual risk level, underlying conditions, and the COVID-19 scenario in that particular province.
“I’m 50-plus. I got my second booster in early May, and that was about four months after I got my first booster,” he said.
“But I was doing a personal calculation as well as getting a second booster in early May because I was planning a trip outside of Canada, and I thought it was better to have a second booster in me, you know, and Benefit from those antibodies.”
When asked about the idea of waiting until another booster drops, he said it’s not an easy question because of the lack of data to determine whether a continuous boost every three to six months is the best long-term. is strategy.
“We can probably offer a more updated vaccine that’s now available taking into account the Omicron subvariants later in the fall. It’s not like we do anything now, so we can’t do a second booster later.”
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