Is it time for you to get the COVID vaccine booster?

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Although the Omicron subvariants have made the Covid vaccines less effective against getting ANY symptoms of Covid, the vaccines still work very well against severe disease. Dr Navdeep Grewal is emergency room physician, practicing in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities. She is among the co-founders of the BC South Asian Covid Task Force. She answers some of the frequently asked questions COIVD boosters and if it is the right time for you to get your first or even second booster dose.

*Why should I get a booster dose?

While you can still get a Covid-19 infection with the Omicron subvariants even after being vaccinated, the booster dose will bump up your immunity to protect you against severe illness and help keep you out of hospital. You might get milder Covid symptoms that make you feel unwell, but not seriously ill.

*Who should get a booster, and when?

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends a booster dose for ALL 18 years and older – booster given at least 6 months after completing your primary 2-dose vaccine series.

NACI now also recommends a booster dose for ALL adolescents aged 12-17 yrs – booster given at least 6 months after completing your primary 2-dose vaccine series.

If you have had a Covid infection recently, you can wait up to 3 months after the infection before you get your booster dose.

*Who can and should get a second booster dose?

To protect people who are most at risk, some people in prioritized populations can get a second booster dose 5-6 months after their first booster dose, to offer extra protection against severe illness with Covid. Evidence on second booster vaccine effectiveness is still limited in most other groups of people.

In BC, the 2nd booster will be offered to people aged 70 years or older, people who live in longterm care, those in the clinically extremely vulnerable categories, and Indigenous people aged 55 years or older.

In Ontario, the 2nd booster will be offered to people aged 60 years or older, longterm care home & retirement home residents, immunocompromised people and Indigenous people aged 18 years or older.

In Alberta, the 2nd booster doses are available to those 12 and over with an immunocompromised condition, all seniors in congregate care, those who are 70 and older as well as Indigenous people 65 and older.

*Which booster vaccine should I get?

Either Moderna or Pfizer may be considered for second booster doses.

Novavax can be given as a booster dose to individuals who are unable or unwilling to receive an mRNA vaccine.

Manufacturers are working on new Covid vaccines that may target the newer Covid variants, but they are not ready for distribution yet.

*How do I get my booster dose?

If you live in BC, you can register and book your booster dose appointment online through the getaccinated.gov.bc.ca website, or by calling 1-833-838-2323.

If you live in Ontario, you can register and book your booster dose appointment online through the covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ website, or by calling 1-833-943-3900.