Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore said he and other health officials are looking into rolling out another round of COVID-19 booster shots this fall. .Moore said in a Friday interview with CityNews Toronto there will be another booster shot available for at-risk people. Another booster shot, he said, could be opened up the general public soon after. .He said preparations for a fall COVID-19 strategy are ongoing. Officials are going through various scenarios such as an aggressive flu season and new COVID-19 variants, according to him. .Moore said he anticipates a new vaccine targeting the original COVID-19 strain and more up-to-date variants will be made available in the fall. .People 18+ years old in Ontario are allowed to have a third COVID-19 vaccine three months after their second dose. A fourth vaccine is available to people who are 60 years old and older or indigenous people 18-plus three months after their third dose. .The definition of fully vaccinated in Canada is expected to stay at two shots for now. .Canadian Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Theresa Tam said the definition might change to three doses this winter. .“For now the federal government, we are not looking at any changes at this time,” said Tam. .“I am having continuous discussions with my colleagues, the other chief medical officers, in reviewing what the definition of fully vaccinated is as we’re going along.”.The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said multiple booster shots every four months could lead to a weakened immune response in vaccinated people and might be ineffective against new variants. .The EMA said there should be more time between boosters, and they should be prioritized during the cold and flu season in each hemisphere..It pointed to current studies demonstrating “a lower risk of being hospitalized after infection with Omicron,” and said the risk is “currently estimated to be between a third and half of the risk with the Delta variant.”.While mask mandates for public transit and health care facilities in Ontario will be ending on Saturday, Moore said they could come back later in the year if need be. .If another wave of COVID-19 threatens Ontario’s health care system, he said he might bring back mask mandates, but he does not expect any public health measures to return. .People in Ontario are required to wear masks in retirement and long-term care homes. Masking is recommended in high-risk congregate care facilities, such as shelters and group homes. .Various hospital representatives in Ontario said they will continue to encourage people to wear masks in their buildings.
Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore said he and other health officials are looking into rolling out another round of COVID-19 booster shots this fall. .Moore said in a Friday interview with CityNews Toronto there will be another booster shot available for at-risk people. Another booster shot, he said, could be opened up the general public soon after. .He said preparations for a fall COVID-19 strategy are ongoing. Officials are going through various scenarios such as an aggressive flu season and new COVID-19 variants, according to him. .Moore said he anticipates a new vaccine targeting the original COVID-19 strain and more up-to-date variants will be made available in the fall. .People 18+ years old in Ontario are allowed to have a third COVID-19 vaccine three months after their second dose. A fourth vaccine is available to people who are 60 years old and older or indigenous people 18-plus three months after their third dose. .The definition of fully vaccinated in Canada is expected to stay at two shots for now. .Canadian Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Theresa Tam said the definition might change to three doses this winter. .“For now the federal government, we are not looking at any changes at this time,” said Tam. .“I am having continuous discussions with my colleagues, the other chief medical officers, in reviewing what the definition of fully vaccinated is as we’re going along.”.The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said multiple booster shots every four months could lead to a weakened immune response in vaccinated people and might be ineffective against new variants. .The EMA said there should be more time between boosters, and they should be prioritized during the cold and flu season in each hemisphere..It pointed to current studies demonstrating “a lower risk of being hospitalized after infection with Omicron,” and said the risk is “currently estimated to be between a third and half of the risk with the Delta variant.”.While mask mandates for public transit and health care facilities in Ontario will be ending on Saturday, Moore said they could come back later in the year if need be. .If another wave of COVID-19 threatens Ontario’s health care system, he said he might bring back mask mandates, but he does not expect any public health measures to return. .People in Ontario are required to wear masks in retirement and long-term care homes. Masking is recommended in high-risk congregate care facilities, such as shelters and group homes. .Various hospital representatives in Ontario said they will continue to encourage people to wear masks in their buildings.
