No masks and 4th doses? Experts concerned about ‘mixed’ COVID-19 messaging

Canadians need more information and better communication on how a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose could be helpful in fighting the sixth wave, experts say.

More Canadians are now eligible for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose, but with less than half of the population having received a third shot and most restrictions lifted across the country, experts are questioning the “mixed messaging” coming from public health officials.

On Tuesday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) published new guidance, recommending second boosters for older Canadians over the age of 70.

Several provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba, have announced their plans to roll out fourth doses to older demographics.

The rollout comes as Canadian provinces grapple with a sixth wave of COVID-19, which public health officials say is being driven by the highly-transmissible BA.2 subvariant of Omicron and lifting of restrictions including masking and proof of vaccination, in most settings.

Experts say Canadians need more information and better communication from public health authorities on how this fourth dose could be helpful in fighting the latest Omicron surge.

“I think a lot of the messaging right now is very mixed,” said Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and University Health Network hospitals in Toronto.

Sinha said it is difficult to convince people to get a fourth dose when at the same time they are being told that masks are not necessary anymore — and it’s up to them to wear one or not.

Quebec has decided to prolong its mask requirement in public places through the month of April amid a surge in hospitalizations and cases related to COVID-19.