The Canadian Vaccine Advisory Committee is expected to update its guidelines in the coming days, as concerns grow that the country may be on the brink of a sixth wave. U.S. regulators approved additional boosters this week for Americans age 50 and older who are at least four months old, and some younger people with severely weakened immune systems.

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See what scientists are saying about what could be ahead of Canada’s next stage in the race for COVID-19. The story goes on under the ad

			Who is eligible for a second amplifier?

The National Immunization Advisory Committee recommends that anyone “moderately to severely immunosuppressed” receive a fourth dose six months after their third vaccination. Many provinces have already given priority to this population and have set their own guidelines on aid time and eligibility. As some provinces move to expand access to second-hand amplifiers, a spokeswoman for the Public Health Service of Canada said Thursday that it plans to publish NACI guidelines in early April. “NACI has been asked for advice on the possible use of second booster doses in older populations at higher risk of serious disease,” Anna Maddison said in an email. In addition to the immunocompromised individuals, Ontario is offering fourth installments to residents of long-term care homes and other assisted living structures, with Quebec seniors aged 80 and over eligible this week. The story goes on under the ad Meanwhile, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix signaled on Thursday that the province is trying to extend more boosters to vulnerable groups such as long-term residents, with details expected on Tuesday.

			What does another vaccine mean?

Experts warn that current vaccines seem to fit in badly with the more contagious Omicron variant. The goal of a boost shot is to restore protection that naturally weakens over time, says Matthew Miller, an associate professor at McMaster University’s Immunology Research Center. A series of primary vaccines train the body to recognize a virus and to defend itself. Eventually, the front-line fighters of the immune system – the antibodies – give up, but retain instructions on how to quickly develop their defenses if they encounter the virus, Miller says. The boosters reactivate this immune system, he says. The story goes on under the ad The problem, Miller says, is that these vaccine drills were designed to recognize the original version of the COVID-19 virus, and Omicron’s heavy mutations make it better at avoiding detection. 1:30 About 70% of COVID-19 cases in Alberta are Omicron BA.2 variant: Minister of Health About 70% of COVID-19 cases in Alberta are Omicron BA.2 variant: Minister of Health “We know that current vaccines do not fit well with Omicron,” says Miller of infection protection, stressing that vaccines continue to protect against serious illness and death. Trending Stories

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“The current vaccine is really challenging our ability to protect ourselves from infection in the long run.” However, there is evidence that enhancers cause short-term increases in antibody levels that may help prevent infection, Miller added. But these supplements should be intended for those who are at highest risk of getting sick, such as people with weakened immune systems and the elderly.

			What does the research say?

Some scientists say that data on secondary amplifiers are limited and it is not clear how much another dose would benefit. The story goes on under the ad Israel began offering a second aid to people aged 60 and over during the first Omicron eruption. Preliminary findings posted on the Internet last week reported fewer deaths among those who chose another booster than those who missed the fourth dose. In a pre-printed non-peer-reviewed paper, researchers analyzed the health records of more than 1.1 million elderly Israelis and found that rates of confirmed infections and serious illnesses were lower than those with just two souvenirs. one. 0: 45COVID-19: Canadians aged 50+ should take the 4th dose to protect themselves from serious illness, says Tam COVID-19: Canadians aged 50+ should take the 4th dose to protect themselves from serious illness , says Tam Tim Evans, executive director of the Task Force Immunity for COVID-19, questions how applicable Israel’s findings are to Canada, given the drastic differences between the two countries’ strategic vaccines. But Dan Gregson, an infectious disease specialist and microbiologist at the University of Calgary, says that while the available data may not be as strong, he is satisfied that there is enough to show that the fourth dose is safe and does not pose an increased risk. . The story goes on under the ad “It makes sense to move forward with the idea of ​​protecting those who are most at risk,” he says. Once the higher-risk groups are met, scientists expect the fourth-dose circulation to be extended to otherwise healthy older adults, although they disagree on which cohorts should qualify, offering age limits of 50 to 75 years. There is a consensus, however, that it would be premature to offer younger Canadians a second boost in the near future, especially when so many of them have not received their first. Evans, director of the McGill School of Population and Global Health, says increasing third-party coverage should be a priority, with federal figures showing that only 47 percent of the population has received the booster vaccine. Earl Brown, a virologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa, says the interval between booster doses should be at least three to six months, adding that Canada’s strategy of delaying second doses suggests that longer waits may be needed. give you more “scream” aix. “ The story goes on under the ad In addition, there is reason to believe that very often reinforcement can offer reduced returns, says Brown: “Some of the first data show that you can enhance and enhance and enhance, but you can not get over a certain point.” Miller adds that the recommendations for the aid schedule should be carefully calibrated to reflect the risks people face, suggesting that it may be wise to stop offering boosters to young people until the autumn, when cases are expected to rise.

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“We are also concerned about apathy and acceptance if we continue to tell people they need to be stimulated,” he says. In the future, Evans predicts that Canada will need to take a more targeted approach to vaccination to reflect different protection in the population, especially as the revolutionary Omicron infections give more people “hybrid immunity.” “Risk management adaptation has to be very, very sensitive to these different types of groupings within the population,” he says, “and anything other than a single size fits all.” © 2022 The Canadian Press