COVID-19 Boosters Available Soon For Those Aged 70+, Those With Two Doses Of AstraZeneca

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The Ontario government is expanding eligibility for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore.

“Those with a strong immune response to their [vaccines] will continue to be protected for some time,” said Moore. “But for some groups, two doses may not be enough to achieve a high level of protection, or immunity can decrease gradually over time, leaving them at higher risk for serious outcomes.”

Moore says for these reasons, the government is prepared to gradually roll out booster doses to all Ontarians aged 12 and over.

“Keeping a low rate of infection in our communities and protecting our most vulnerable is how we can keep our schools, businesses and social settings as safe as possible while avoiding further lockdowns,” said Moore.

The province says they will begin offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the following vulnerable populations if at least six months have passed since their last dose:

• Individuals aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier);
• Health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long-term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers);
• Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine); and
• First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members.

Starting on Saturday, November 6th at 8:00am, eligible individuals will be able to book their booster dose appointment through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, select pharmacies, and primary care settings.