4th doses of COVID-19 vaccines coming to Ontarians 60+ as hospitalizations surpass 1,000 mark
CBC
Ontarians aged 60 or over will soon be able to get a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as hospitalizations on Tuesday climbed past the 1,000 mark for the first time since February.
The province logged 1,091 COVID-19 hospitalizations today, an increase of about 38 per cent from the week before.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said Tuesday Ontarians aged 60 or older will soon be able to receive a fourth dose of vaccine.
"Our medical advisers have recommended ... that we go to 60 to provide an added level of protection to the residents of Ontario," Elliott told reporters at Queen's Park.
The province's plan to open fourth-dose access to people aged 60 and older follows new advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
On Tuesday, the committee said provinces and territories should start preparing plans to roll out fourth shots in the coming weeks, prioritizing those 80 and older and residents in long-term care.
Fourth doses in Ontario are already available to long-term care and retirement home residents, as well as those who are immunocompromised.
Elliott said more details on the province's plan to expand eligibility for fourth doses will be shared Wednesday.
Elliott said the province is also looking to add distribution points for an antiviral COVID-19 drug.
Immunocompromised adults and older COVID-19 patients who are unvaccinated are eligible to receive Paxlovid, but concerns have been raised about difficulty accessing the drug.
Elliott said Paxlovid was initially distributed through 26 sites and the province intends to distribute it from more locations now that supply has increased.
Pharmacies may be involved in the rollout of the drug at some point, along with other potential sites, Elliott said.
The province's plan comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations have been rising in Ontario, with hospitalizations up from 857 on Monday and 790 at this time last week.
Elliott says the rise in cases is no surprise and the province can manage it.
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