Quebecers aged 70 and older can get COVID-19 booster shot if they want it, health minster says

Quebec government officials say a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available to people aged 70 and older if they wish to receive one.

Health minister Christian Dubé made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference with public health director Dr. Horacio Arruda and Daniel Paré, head of the vaccination program in Quebec, following a recommendation from the province's immunization committee, the Comité sur l'immunisation du Québec (CIQ). 

"This recommendation is based on the fact that the vaccine protection tends to decrease slightly in people aged 80 and over. At this time, however, it's not necessary to offer a booster dose to people under the age of 70," Dubé said.

Booster shots are recommended for older people but only after six months have passd since their last dose. According to the schedule announced Tuesday, eligible Quebecers can begin booking a third dose on the following dates:

Appointments can be made on the Clic Santé website next week. The government also announced that people who got two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, or another type of viral vector vaccine, will be able to get a third dose of a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) as of Nov. 25.