Everyone over six months of age can get the most recently updated vaccine this fall when it’s available, says a report from the National Advisory Committee on Vaccination.
Here’s what you need to know about getting this fall’s COVID-19 jab
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has released its recommendations for this fall, well ahead of a surge in infections predicted for later this year.
Everyone over six months of age can get the most recently updated vaccine this fall when it’s available, says a report from the National Advisory Committee on Vaccination.
This fall’s COVID-19 shot is already being “strongly” recommended to those most at risk from the virus as experts anticipate a surge of infections later this year.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on Friday released its fall COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, in part to provide provinces and territories enough time to prepare their coming immunization campaigns.
“Vaccination remains one of our most effective tools in protecting ourselves and our communities from COVID-19,” Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief medical officer of health, said in a summary of the report. “With our experience from previous years, we know there is potential for increased impact of COVID-19 activity during the fall and winter months when other respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV are circulating.
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“An additional dose using the latest vaccine formulation, layered with personal protective practices, will continue to be important this fall to increase protection especially for those most at risk of COVID-19 infection or severe disease in our communities.”
Those at greater risk of COVID-19 infection or severe outcomes were identified as: People aged 65 or older; residents of congregate living settings including long-term care homes; those with underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk of infection; pregnant women; members of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities; members of racialized and other marginalized communities; and essential service providers.
As well, unvaccinated immunocompromised individuals aged five or older should be given at least two and up to three doses of the vaccine, “regardless of vaccine platform,” NACI recommends.
All other vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals over six months of age can get the most recently updated vaccine this fall, the report noted, although “there is not yet sufficient data to determine the best time to start the COVID-19 vaccination program in the fall.”
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“An updated vaccine to replace the current XBB.1.5 vaccine may be available starting in the fall of 2024, depending on the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and recommendations of international advisory groups expected in mid-spring 2024,” the report added.
For children aged six months to 12 years old, NACI recommends the Moderna Spikevax or PfizerBioNTech Comirnaty mRNA vaccines. People aged 12 and older can get these vaccines as well as the Novavax Nuvaxovid protein subunit vaccine, which operates using a different mechanism.
Vaccinated individuals are recommended to top up their immunity with another dose every six months, with a minimum interval of three months — meaning those who got a jab in spring will be ready for another shot in fall.
According to the latest data from March, while 81.3 per cent of the Canadian population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, only 20.5 per cent are vaccinated in accordance with national recommendations — and just 16.3 per cent have received one shot of the latest XBB.1.5 vaccine.
“The committee emphasizes the benefits of available vaccines for COVID-19 protection, and particularly for those most at risk of severe illness, as we know that protection against severe illness due to COVID-19 can wane over time,” Dr. Robyn Harrison, NACI Chair, said in the report’s summary.
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