Canada's vaccine advisory body recommends 'rapid deployment' of 2nd booster shots for 80+
CBC
Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is now strongly recommending the "rapid deployment" of second COVID-19 booster shots for seniors aged 80 and up in the community and those living in long-term care and other congregate settings.
In NACI's latest statement, released on Tuesday, the advisory body stressed the need to ward off "protection against severe disease potentially decreasing over time following the first booster dose" and mitigate the risk of highly transmissible variants which can evade immunity.
While the "greatest benefit" is expected in adults 80 years of age and older, regions may also consider offering a second COVID-19 booster dose to adults between 70 to 79 years of age living in the community, NACI's statement continued.
"At the end of the day, this is the cohort that is by far the most likely to land in hospital and have a more serious outcome, and this is the cohort that would be most likely to benefit from it," Toronto-based infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CBC News following the release of the updated guidance.
The committee also suggested the provinces should provide people with a second booster shot six months after their previous dose, but that a shorter interval "may be warranted in some individuals in the context of the rapidly evolving pandemic."
McMaster University associate professor Dr. Zain Chagla said that wiggle room to offer boosters in a shorter timeframe makes sense given the high levels of virus circulating in Canada right now as the country experiences another spike in COVID-19 cases.
"It's not simply a question of time since third dose, but also what's going on in your community," he said.
"If you're in a wave, then don't just wait until the six months, you can start administering it early to that population recognizing again that they're at the highest risk of complications."
In December, NACI previously recommended a fourth shot only for moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals, noting data on additional boosters was "limited" at the time.
Since then, there's been a patchwork approach to offering fourth doses across the country, with some regions following that early guidance while others are offering additional shots more broadly.
In Saskatchewan, for instance, fourth shots are available for residents of long-term care, special care and personal care homes five months after their third dose.
Fourth doses are also recommended in Ontario for certain vulnerable seniors, including residents of long-term care facilities, retirement homes, and other congregate assisted-living settings, while Quebec offers access to anyone aged 80 and up.
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Already, those additional shots seem to be making a difference, Bogoch noted.
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