Ontario Now all adults allowing to book the fourth dose of COVID-19 But the province’s top doctor has said that healthy young adults may choose to wait until fall for a new shot that is expected to target the Omicron subvariant.
The Canadian Press asked experts what individuals should consider getting a fourth shot this summer.
What questions should people ask themselves when deciding to take the fourth shot?
Dr. Susie Hota, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University Health Network in Toronto, said individuals should assess whether there is a lot of COVID-19 activity in their community. If there is, Hota said they should consider taking a fourth dose as soon as possible.
Another factor to weigh is whether individuals are at higher risk of getting severe cases of the virus if they contract it _ or if they have one in their household, she said. This includes people with underlying health conditions such as heart disease and chronic lung disease.
“Really we want to make sure that any weakened immunity is now addressed by a booster dose, as COVID continues to rise across the country,” Hota said.
Dr. Kashif Peerzada, an emergency room physician in Toronto, said people should check when they got their last vaccine – if it’s been six months or more, they would now benefit from getting another jab.
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“Antibody protection decreases over time, especially four or five months after your vaccine and[vaccines]can protect you from developing infection in the first place and may even prevent the onset of serious disease,” he said. Told.
What questions should residents ask their doctors?
Hota said people can review their health history with their health care providers and also have conversations about who they live with and whether those individuals are at high risk of serious consequences.
Peerzada said there is a “division in medical opinion” because some health care providers want to wait for more evidence before making recommendations.
“But the problem is, as things are evolving with the pandemic, stuff happens a lot faster than those who study,” he said.
The province’s top doctor advised Ontarians to consult with their health care providers to see if a fourth dose is now right for them.
What should people keep in mind when it comes to the new shot targeting the Omicron variant expected for the fall?
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has said that a new vaccine is expected in the coming months and the province will likely begin vaccinating high-risk individuals with it in the fall. That means most Ontarians probably won’t be eligible for a new shot until closer to November or December, he said.
Peerzada said Ontarians should consider that timeline.
“Omicron boosters won’t be available to most people until I say October, November, the way things are going,” he said. “So if you get it now, you’ll be in perfect form to get another booster in the fall.”
Revath Devanandan, an epidemiologist and associate professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, also said it was important to keep the timeline in mind.
“Do you have confidence in your government to get enough doses in the fall of this high-demand Omicron booster? Do you expect that, when the fall, the same major variant is circulating today, the same major variant will be circulating today.” ? They said.
Now what are the benefits of taking the fourth dose and are there any drawbacks?
Getting the booster now and then getting an Omicron-specific booster a few months later is “completely safe” because there will be a considerable time lag between the two, Peerzada said.
He said evidence from the third dose showed that the vaccines are “very helpful” in reducing the severity of the virus, hospitalization and the risk of developing COVID in the long run.
Hota said getting the fourth dose now will help not only individuals, but the entire province as a whole to navigate the seventh wave.
“Our goal is to protect people and preserve the healthcare system, so getting your fourth dose can help with the current wave that’s already going on, making it easier for us to deal with.”
Devanandan said it is clear that “the fourth dose of the current formulation is actually very good,” pointing to studies in Israel and the US showing that four doses protect against symptomatic disease, hospitalization and death compared to three doses. are more protective.
For young, healthy adults, Devanandan said getting a fourth dose now will help protect them from COVID-19 and spreading it to others who are at greater risk.
“To me, the answer is obvious – you get it now,” he said.
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