In a recent NACI statement released Tuesday, the advisory body stressed the need to prevent “protection against serious illness potentially diminishing over time after the first booster dose” and to mitigate the risk of highly contagious variants. can avoid immunity. While the “biggest benefit” is expected in adults aged 80 and over, sites may also consider offering a second booster dose of COVID-19 to community-aged adults aged 70 to 79, the NACI said in a statement. “At the end of the day, this is the cohort that is by far the most likely to land in the hospital and have a more serious effect, and this is the cohort that is most likely to benefit from it,” Toronto-based infectious disease said. The specialist in diseases Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CBC News after the release of the updated guidance.
“It’s not just a matter of time”
The commission also suggested that the provinces provide people with a second booster dose six months after their previous dose, but that a shorter period “may be justified to some people in the context of a rapidly evolving pandemic”. McMaster University Associate Professor Dr Zayn Chagla said the margin for supply of boosters in a shorter period of time makes sense given the high levels of virus currently circulating in Canada as the country experiences another COVID-19 outbreak. . “It’s not just a matter of time since the third installment, but also what is happening in your community,” he said. “If you are on a wave, then do not just wait until six months, you can start giving it to this population early, recognizing again that they are at the highest risk of complications.” CLOCKS Ontario in the 6th wave of COVID-19, experts say:
Experts say Ontario is now in the 6th wave of COVID-19
Coronavirus levels in sewage now indicate that there are 30,000 to 35,000 new COVID-19 infections daily in Ontario, say public health experts. 4:11
Alyson Kelvin, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan, said the guidance was in line with clinical data showing that fourth doses restored reduced antibody levels for protection against serious diseases.
“The picture that is starting to show is that immunity is declining between five and six months after the COVID-19 vaccine. This is similar to what we see for the seasonal flu vaccine,” he said.
“We only get the flu vaccine on an annual basis, because the virus is seasonal with cases only increasing during the winter months. SARS-CoV-2 is currently a persistent problem, suggesting the need for an alternative support program.”
Patchwork approach for amplifiers
In December, NACI had previously recommended a fourth shot only for moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals, noting that data on additional enhancers were “limited” at the time. Since then, there has been a patchwork approach to offering fourth installments across the country, with some areas following this early guidance while others offering additional downloads more widely. In Saskatchewan, for example, fourth shots are available to residents of long-term care, intensive care and personal care five months after their third dose. The fourth installments will also soon be available to people over the age of 60 in Ontario, while Quebec is currently offering access to anyone aged 80 and over. CLOCKS US approves 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine for older Americans:
The United States approves the 4th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for older Americans
Health officials in the United States have approved a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people 50 years of age and older. Across Canada, second aid shots are not yet widely available, but experts say they expect to be available to most people by the fall. 1:56
Already, these extra shots seem to make a difference, Bogoch noted.
“Look at the COVID-related long-term care deaths: not cases, but deaths. Our long-term care sectors are probably doing well because of this,” he said. “Outbreaks are one thing, right? No one is going to pretend that these vaccines are going to stop an outbreak completely, but they are definitely preventing deaths.”
The US offers a 4th installment for people over the age of 50
NACI Update Guidance Follows Recent Authorization From US Federal Regulators a fourth dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for Americans 50 years and olderand for anyone 12 years of age or older with a weakened immune system. U.S. data showed that during the recent increase in Omicron, people who received aid were 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19 than those who were not vaccinated and seven times less likely to be hospitalized. NACI also does not rule out the possibility of additional amplifiers for the general population – noting that wider use may be required if there are worrying trends in the pandemic. But for now, Bogoch agreed with the committee’s position to prioritize additional reinforcements specifically for the elderly. “You just do not see vaccinated 40- and 50-year-olds without underlying medical conditions in the hospital so often,” he said. “But you see vulnerable elderly people who have been vaccinated in the hospital and if this fourth dose can help keep people out of the hospital, we are doing the right thing.” The latest NACI guidance notes that a second booster dose may also be considered for adults under the age of 70 from or from the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, in collaboration with health and public health partners. The advisory committee said it was also reviewing existing recommendations for COVID-19 booster doses for younger adults under the age of 50 and adolescents aged 12 to 17 and “will publish a statement with updated advice in the coming weeks”.
