Last week, Ontario expanded eligibility for fourth COVID-19 vaccines to all adults as the BA.5 Omicron variant spreads across the province. But with the wait for a bivalent vaccine — which will include variations of Omicron — to be available in the fall, some Canadians are wondering if it’s better to wait until then to get a booster. People over 60 or those with underlying medical conditions are advised not to wait to get their second booster, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch. “If you haven’t gotten a fourth dose and you have risk factors for a serious infection, it’s a good idea to get that fourth dose now,” Bogoch told CTV News Channel on Saturday. Younger Canadians and those not at higher risk of infection could benefit from the booster, but Bogoch recommends consulting a family doctor first. Provinces and territories began rolling out fourth doses of the vaccine after Canada’s National Immunization Advisory Committee recommended the booster to combat a potential wave in the fall likely from the Omicron BA.5 variant. Ontario pharmacist Kristen Watt told CTV News Channel on Saturday that there are already vaccines made specifically to combat such variants. This may leave some Canadians undecided about whether to get their booster now or wait for the new vaccine. “We’re really hoping to see the Omicron specific vaccines coming in the fall, but getting a vaccine now, we don’t expect it to cause any problems with being able to vaccinate in the fall. So we hope people will do both,” he said. Watt says getting the second COVID booster depends on the individual and the risk factors they face on a daily basis. While there is still uncertainty about when a new vaccine will be introduced, Watt said the vaccine will still provide protection against serious diseases. “We really have to focus on the individual and talk about, yes, there could be something, but we don’t know for sure when it’s going to come, and protection now will protect you and those around you right now,” he said. he said.
