Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Canada is heading into a "challenging fall," which is why getting a booster shot should be every Canadian's top priority.."Over the next weeks as our children return to school, or we return to the office, making an appointment for a booster dose should be at the top of our to-do lists," Duclos said during a Thursday press conference..Duclos' recommendations come as Health Canada announced it authorized the country's first booster shot targeting the Omicron variant. The first delivery of 780,000 doses will arrive Friday, with more than 10 million expected by the end of the month..Duclos said over 90% of Canadians were vaccinated for COVID-19, putting the country ahead of all other G7 members. But with only 60% having gotten their booster, Canada trails all G7 countries except for the United States..According to Duclos, the Public Health Agency of Canada said if 90% of Canadians get their third dose, hospitalizations can be reduced by 90% this winter. He did not elaborate.."Vaccination is like a phone battery," Duclos said. "We need to take action to charge our batteries and to safely maintain our level of production by staying up to date with our immunizations.."If it has been six months or more since our last vaccination, well it is time to get a booster.".Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while speaking to reporters in Manitoba, said as much as everyone would like COVID-19 to be over, it's still spreading in Canada.."As winter comes and as people get pushed back indoors, there is a real risk of another serious wave of COVID," Trudeau said.."One of the best things we can do to prevent that wave, prevent the pressure on our health-care system, prevent provinces from having to take decisions around restrictions and mandates, is to ensure that everyone is up to date on their vaccinations."
