Second COVID-19 vaccine boosters for Ontarians aged 18-59 coming this month, Dr. Moore says

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health says with the province well into the seventh wave of COVID-19, as early as next week, second booster shots are expected to be made available for everyone aged 18 to 59.

In an interview with Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s top doctor tells CityNews that the second booster dose would not preclude Ontarians from another follow-up shot three months later, as it would be re-formulated to add additional layers of protection.

Dr. Moore says the rollout is a government decision that will be made next week. Currently, individuals aged 60-and-up are qualified for a second booster vaccine.

“We’re going to make it, so those 18 to 59 are eligible for a second booster,” Dr. Moore confirmed with CityNews.

“That may include healthy healthcare workers — anyone from 18 to 59 who is eligible for a second booster. If you have any underlying medical illness, please come forward. Go to your local pharmacist or public health immunization clinic. They are there to immunize you.”

Dr. Moore says the upcoming second boosters will be of the original strain and include only Pfizer or Moderna.

In the fall, Dr. Moore says that the government is considering a vaccine with “a base strain” and an additional strain of an Omicron variant. Either the BA.1 or BA.5 subvariant — which has become dominant in the province.

“That is where we’re undecided yet,” Dr. Moore said. “In the fall, we will have an additional vaccination strategy and roll out, a high-risk strategy first, and then at a population level, where we provide this newer vaccine.”

The province’s top doctor says no one should delay getting a second booster shot once eligible.

“You will again be eligible in the fall for this vaccine,” Dr. Moore says.

“We anticipate giving five-to-six months of protection. That is what we have learned from previous strains; it may be longer now with this new vaccine. That will get us through the difficult days of the winter of November, December, January, February, and March when we traditionally have respiratory viruses return.”

The top doctor says influenza vaccinations (flu shots) will be available in Ontario.

Dr. Moore: Annual COVID-19 vaccines could be the new norm

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health reiterated that three months is typically the amount of time advised to wait between getting vaccinated.

However, Dr. Moore says they could extend that to five or six months if someone were vaccinated in July.

“We’re making sure we have the capacity if we have an increase in individuals coming forward to get immunized in the days and week,” the top doctor says. “We can open up further and are reviewing that on a daily basis.”

On the subject of Ontarians needing annual COVID-19 vaccines to help stop the spread and keep people protected, Dr. Moore says that may very well be the new norm.

“Right now, the virus clearly isn’t becoming seasonal. We’re getting a summer wave,” Dr. Moore explained. “Once it does turn into a more seasonal virus — which has happened to the previous coronavirus that affects humans — then a once a year, seasonal vaccine for coronavirus may be appropriate at that time.”

Moore acknowledges that it may be several years down the road “before we get into that cycle in an annual rise in coronavirus activity.”

Ontario is now at least three weeks into a seventh COVID-19 wave, Dr. Moore says, noting a significant difference between past waves in the winter when Omicron was spreading at a dangerous and rapid pace.

Dr. Moore says the province can weather this smaller wave, noting that Ontario has another week to see the maximal effect.

“This wave appears to be a less aggressive, less health-system impact. We are monitoring all of those metrics very, very closely,” the top doctor says.

“The good news is, the wave word is scary, but its impact on the healthcare system will be measured. That is thanks to all Ontarians staying up to date on immunizations.”

Dr. Moore mentioned Paxlovid as a vital tool in helping keep Ontario residents safe and protected. He says over 22,000 Ontarians have been prescribed the treatment to date.

“If you’re vulnerable at this time, we encourage you to mask in various indoor public settings where we know this virus will want to spread.”

On Wednesday, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said the province was in a seventh wave, adding that wastewater testing results showed rising concentrations of COVID-19 and that the province’s test-positivity and hospitalization rates were also rising.

The science table said the BA.5 variant appears more immune-evasive, meaning people recently infected can catch the virus again soon after.

Its transmissibility could also mean that many people — including those highly vulnerable to the virus — could become infected and experience severe outcomes, including death.

With files from Allison Jones of The Canadian Press.