The province is expanding eligibility for 4th doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says anyone aged 18 and older will be able to book a fourth shot starting Thursday, July 14th.
A new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine will also likely be approved by Health Canada this fall to offer more targeted protection against the Omicron variants.
High-risk individuals who should get their second booster dose as soon as possible include:
- Individuals aged 60 and over;
- First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over;
- Residents of a long-term care home, retirement home, or Elder Care Lodge and older adults living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services; and
- Individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
The Ontario government will also continue to provide free rapid antigen tests to the general public until December 31st, 2022.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)