Provinces and territories are starting to roll out updated vaccines to protect people from COVID-19.
The Public Health Agency of Canada’s immunization guide says COVID vaccines have been shown to be effective at preventing severe disease, including hospitalization and death and can decrease the risk of post-COVID-19 condition, or long COVID.
The vaccination campaign comes as COVID-19 cases in people going to emergency or urgent care for respiratory symptoms have increased. About 10 per cent of tests were positive for the week ending Sept. 20, up from 9.6 per cent the previous week, according to the federal respiratory virus snapshot.
This fall, Health Canada authorized the latest mRNA vaccines. Moderna’s is available for those six months of age and older and Pfizer-BioNTech’s is available for those five and up. Infectious disease physicians consider both vaccines equivalent.
All adults 65 or older are recommended to get the COVID-19 shot, whether they’ve previously received one or not, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization says, due to their increased risk.
It’s also recommended for those six months of age and older who are also:
Everyone else six months of age and up may receive an updated COVID shot if they’d like to, even those who aren’t at high risk, the national advisory group said.
Ontario has started to make COVID shots available to priority groups such as residents of long-term care homes and other provinces and territories will do the same in the coming weeks.
The latest vaccines include LP.8.1, an offshoot of the shape-shifting Omicron variant.
The updated vaccine “works against the current strains that are circulating,” said Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious diseases specialist at McGill University Health Centre.
“If you receive this updated LP8.1 dose, you actually will get [a] nice fourfold increase in the antibody levels compared to if you didn’t get this vaccine.”
Vinh called the latest formulation of the vaccines an important buffer against potential hospitalization and even death as new strains circulate and immunity from previous infections and vaccinations wanes.
For most Canadians, COVID vaccines will be free.
There are two exceptions. Alberta charges $100, and Quebec $150 to $180, for those who fall outside what those provinces define as high-risk groups.
Pharmacies, public health clinics and some family physicians offer COVID shots. Provinces and territories are updating their rollout websites.
