Now that fall COVID-19 vaccine guidance has been released by Ontario’s health ministry, Peterborough Public Health will be holding community immunization clinics throughout October and November.
Moderna’s updated Spikevax monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine, which better protects against the new omicron XBB variant of the virus, will be available for all Ontario residents six months of age and older in the next few weeks.
The updated vaccine can be used both by those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine as well as those who have been previously vaccinated, as long as it’s been six months since their previous vaccination or last known COVID-19 infection.
“At this time, sub lineages of the XBB COVID-19 strain are circulating in the country, with predictions that it will become the dominant strain this season,” says Peterborough medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott in a media release.
“This means that the new XBB vaccine should provide an important update to people’s current protection, even if they have previously had booster doses including the bivalent vaccine. Those who are at higher risk for complications related to a COVID-19 infection are strongly advised to receive a booster dose with the XBB.1.5 formulation.”
Eligibility for the updated COVID-19 vaccine will align with eligibility for the influenza vaccine. The first eligible group includes people who are hospitalized and hospital staff along with residents, staff, and caregivers in long-term care homes and elder care lodges. The next eligible group will be people at high risk of complications from influenza or COVID-19 or hospitalization (including residents and staff of congregate living settings, pregnant women, Indigenous people and their household members, and people 65 years of age and older) and health care workers and first responders.
The final eligible group is the general public, for whom the updated COVID-19 vaccine will be available as soon as supply permits. Pfizer XBB and Novavax XBB COVID-19 vaccines are still awaiting approval from Health Canada and are not yet available for use.
Residents who are eligible for a vaccination can book an appointment through the provincial vaccine booking centre call line at 1-833-943-3900 or online at ontario.ca/bookvaccine.
Some of the upcoming Peterborough Public Health community immunization clinics, which will be held at the health unit’s office in downtown Peterborough and across Peterborough County, will be offering both COVID-19 vaccines and influenza vaccines.
Dr. Piggott will be hosting an event about the upcoming respiratory season and COVID-19 and influenza vaccines on Peterborough Public Health’s Instagram @ptbopublichealth at 5 p.m. on Thursday (September 28).
