The province expects about 63,000 doses of the mRNA vaccine, which was approved by Health Canada last month, by the end of September. They contain the code for the spike protein of both the new Omicron variants and the original (ancestral) strain of the COVID-19 virus, hence the term bivalent. “Even a booster with that ancestral strain still gives you really, really good protection against serious disease,” Fitzgerald told reporters at a briefing on Wednesday, September 14. The province has seen a marked drop in hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 over the summer, but Fitzgerald said that is likely to change as the weather cools and people spend more time indoors. “As we know very well, this creates the perfect environment for respiratory viruses to spread,” he said. “This cold and flu season will be our first without public health restrictions since the winter of 2019-20, and we expect to see influenza and COVID-19 co-circulating with other respiratory viruses.” He encouraged anyone 20 weeks from their last booster shot to get whatever vaccine is available to help mitigate the fall/winter outbreak. For children ages 5-12, this shot will likely be their first booster. “We’d like everyone to get a souvenir,” he said. “We know that getting that third dose specifically is quite protective against serious disease and for a while it’s protective against transmission.”
Priority groups
The bivalent vaccine will also be available at regional health clinics, as well as pharmacies. Pharmacists were asked to fill appointment slots before requesting an allocation. While supplies remain limited, eligibility criteria are: • anyone aged 65 or over. • Seniors in long-term care and other congregate living facilities. • anyone over the age of 12 with an underlying medical condition that puts them at risk. • Adults in indigenous communities. • adults in racial or marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. • adults in shelters, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
Off-label use
The bivalent vaccine is approved for people 18 years of age and older, but the National Immunization Advisory Committee has recommended off-label use for children 12-17 years of age who are at increased risk of severe disease. Fitzgerald said it’s not uncommon for products to be used off-label when their use and risk profile is well documented. “What we know about this vaccine is that it’s an mRNA vaccine, it’s the same as the vaccine that’s been around since then. The only difference is the coding in the spike protein present in the vaccine. So the technology itself, the type of vaccine … it’s been used before and it’s been used with this age group before, and the dosage has been used in this age group before.” It is not yet entirely clear how much more effective the bivalent vaccine is, and the difference may not be large. A preprinted study in August shows it prevented about eight additional severe cases in 1,000 infections. The province’s flu vaccination program is expected to begin next month. More information can be found online at Peter Jackson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Indigenous affairs for The Telegram.
