Booster shot now advised for Canadians who received two shots of AstraZeneca vaccine - Canada.com

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has expanded eligibility guidelines for booster shots to also include people older than 70

Author of the article:

The Canadian Press

Laura Osman

AstraZeneca was a frontrunner in the race for making an effective vaccine against COVID-19 ever since it began working with the University of Oxford. Photo by Dado Ruvic / Reuters

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OTTAWA — The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has expanded eligibility guidelines for booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines.

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Canada’s expert panel on COVID-19 vaccines is recommending boosters for people who received two doses of AstraZeneca or one dose of the Janssen vaccine, regardless of age, and frontline health workers who were vaccinated with mRNA shots that were spaced less than 28 days apart.

It also expanded booster recommendations to people 70 and older and Indigenous groups, but stopped short of recommending boosters for all people who received an mRNA vaccine — Pizer or Moderna.

The latest recommendation says the emerging evidence suggests vaccine effectiveness against asymptomatic infection and mild COVID-19 disease may decrease over time, and a booster could help restore protection.

“Emerging evidence suggests vaccine effectiveness against asymptomatic infection and mild COVID-19 disease may decrease over time,” NACI wrote in its new guidance Friday.

“A booster dose could help restore and maintain protection against infection in certain populations.”

NACI more strongly recommends boosters for adults living in long-term care homes and other congregate living situations and adults over the age of 80.

The committee continues to recommend boosters be given six months after the first two doses are received.

NACI found no evidence of widespread waning immunity against severe disease in the general population.

“We are seeing that two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines continue to perform very well for the majority of people,” said NACI chair Dr. Shelley Deeks in a statement Friday.

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That means the general population isn’t likely to need a booster any time soon, said Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam.

While NACI has recommended boosters for some groups, Tam said she doesn’t expect Canada to change its definition of full vaccination to include a third dose.

“We have to consider the fact that many countries don’t even have enough vaccine to complete the primary series,” Tam said at a briefing Friday.

“We have to balance both the scientific facts, the recommendations, but also the reality of the vaccine supply and equity from a global perspective as well.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about Canada’s move toward booster shots when many countries are still struggling to vaccinate its citizens during his official visit to the Netherlands Friday.

There are enough vaccines in the country to ensure every Canadian can get a full slate of vaccines, and the government will continue to work on ensuring vaccine access around the globe as well, Trudeau said.

Some provinces are already moving ahead with plans to offer boosters to the general population.

British Columbia has promised anyone in the province wanting a booster shot of a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine will have access to one by May 2022.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2021.

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Booster shot now advised for Canadians who received two shots of AstraZeneca vaccine - Canada.com
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