Key takeaways:
- Public Health states bookings available next week but advises people to wait for fall.
- Beginning next week, Nova Scotians 50 and more aged can reserve a second booster shot appointment at a pharmacy or get one at a drop-in clinic.
Nova Scotians aged 50 to 69 can reserve a second COVID-19 booster late next week, but Public Health officers say a fall booking could better ward off the infection.
There could be a new vaccine that performs better against the Omicron variant of the virus by fall, according to a Monday press release. But people in that age level can secure a booster any time after July 8 as long as it has been 168 days or more since their previous shot of the medicine.
“Our suggestion is to wait because the first booster still delivers strong safety against the severe illness for most people in this age level. COVID-19 activity is now relatively tough, but we hope we will have a revival later this fall or winter when we generally see waves in respiratory viruses,” Dr. Shelley Deeks, the deputy chief medical officer of health, stated in the release.
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Pharmacy bookings are available on July 8 and can be made online or by phone during the day at 1-833-797-7772. People don’t need appointments for drop-in clinics offering the boost.
NACI, Public Health state delay for the second booster
Deeks, who chairs the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, told the organization still urges most people to get the initial two-shot sequence and one booster, not the second.
“We’ve listened from some Nova Scotians that they would like the option to get their second booster dose shortly, so the government decided to open up the eligibility to let these people make an informed pick for themselves,” she told reporters Monday.
Source – cbc.ca
