2023-07-14 15:19:09
In response to the Ontario Ministry of Health’s announcement, the Greater Sudbury and Area Public Health Unit recommends that the eligible population wait until the fall to receive a booster shot against COVID-19 , in order to optimize the effectiveness of the immune system during the winter season.
According to Cynthia Peacock-Rocca, COVID-19 operations manager at Public Health Sudbury & Districts, getting a booster dose as early as this summer may be less helpful in the long run.
If you get a booster dose now, the next dose could be given in the middle or at the end of the respiratory season with waning immunity, Rocca says.
For the manager, the best time to get a booster dose against COVID-19 would be during the respiratory illness season.
By getting your booster dose closer to the start of the fall respiratory illness season, you are less likely to become seriously ill over the winter.
The organization maintains, however, that the decision to make an appointment is up to the residents and specifies in this sense that anyone who wishes to obtain their dose before the fall can do so.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) also said last Tuesday that the next series of vaccines will specifically target the Omicron variant and its family, which are still present in the world today.
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The risks of contracting COVID-19 have decreased since April.
Photo : Archyde.com / Hannah Beier
Not much enthusiasm for reminders
According to data collected by the federal government, 80% of Canadians have received their first vaccines.
However, there is less enthusiasm for booster doses, although less than 6% of the population have received one in the past six months.
Public health authorities are encouraging citizens to remain vigilant and get their doses as recommended.
Moreover, Ms. Rocca indicates that it is likely that a new formulation called XBB of COVID-19 specifically targets the sub-variant that is circulating at the moment.
She adds that, even if Health Canada does not yet have approved vaccines, several manufacturers of vaccines against COVID-19 would be waiting for an authorization.
A risk index on hiatus since April
Public Health Sudbury & Districts has put the COVID-19 Risk Index it created in 2022 on hold.
By analyzing the number of hospital admissions, active outbreaks and sewage, the health unit was able to determine a low, medium, high or very high risk index for COVID-19.
At the time, the Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer of Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, called the tool inactive due to reduced risk from the virus.
With information from CBC reporter Martha Dillman
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