Eligibility for a 4th dose of a COVID-19 vaccine expected soon

Ontario is now entering its sixth wave of COVID-19 and many public health measures have been lifted.

Ontarians are now waiting to see who will be eligible next for a 4th dose, or a second booster shot.

As people shop, dine and workout without masks, the BA.2 variant of COVID-19 is on the rise across Canada and Ontario.

Christine Elliott, Minister of Health, says she’s not surprised. “We did anticipate the numbers would go up, as we opened up Ontario, so none of this is unexpected. We do have a very highly vaccinated population, we have the anti-viral now and we do have the capacity in our hospitals,” said Elliott.

While 91 per cent of people in Ontario aged 12 and older are double vaccinated and 60 per cent are boosted, experts say many people could benefit from a fourth shot.

“What we are seeing now is growing evidence that maybe a fourth dose for other at-risk populations, mainly seniors, could help protect them from more severe outcomes,” said infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch.

People in long-term care homes and those with compromised immune systems have already had their second booster in Ontario.

The government is expected to announce soon who will be eligible next.

While the fourth dose can offer some added protection for those who need it, the first two were the most important according to epidemiologist Tim Sly.

“The difference really between the first two doses and the third one was quite tremendous in terms of the amount of immunity. But, the difference between the 3rd and 4th one will not be that much, it will be marginal at best,” said Sly.

Bogoch says he expects to hear who will be eligible for a fourth dose sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Premier Doug Ford was also asked on Sunday with cases rising, can people in Ontario expect to see any restrictions or mask mandates coming back. He said not at this time, and it is up to individuals if they want to wear a mask.