Canada’s Health Minister Calls For Booster Shots every 9 Months to Maintain Vaccine Status

Health Minister JeanYves Duclos states that Canadians need to get a COVID booster shot once in nine months to ensure their vaccine status is “up-to date .”

” What does it mean to be up-to date? Let me be very clear: Up-to-date means you’ve received your last dose in the past nine months,” said Duclos in a press conference on June 30.

” If you have already had a booster, great! Please check if you are eligible for another booster. .”

Duclos was joined virtually by federal chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Matthew Tunis, executive secretary to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), to provide updates on COVID-19 and other public health restrictions, including border measures.

“‘Fully immunized’ doesn’t make sense right now so it’s all about being “up to date,” the minister added. He said that the attitude of being “up to date” was the best way to approach vaccinations from now.

He claimed that immunity from two COVID vaccinations last year had “now waned .”

” While you may have been infected with the virus, there is a high chance that you will be reinfected again, which could lead to the full downfall of the disease, as well as the possibility of getting long-term COVID symptoms.” he stated.

Tam echoed Duclos’ message, saying new variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to emerge and spread worldwide.

“Up-to-date vaccination remains the foundation of our protection individually and collectively, to help reduce the spread that leads to resurgence and to significantly lower the risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19,” she said.

NACI Recommendations

A report by the NACI on June 29 said the agency would “continue to monitor the evidence” to provide guidance on the type and timing of COVID-19 vaccines for subsequent booster doses.

The recommendations include offering booster shots to people who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as residents at long-term-care homes, prisoners, and the general public aged 65 and over.

“NACI recommends that all other individuals 12 to 64 years of age may be offered a fall COVID-19 booster dose regardless of the number of booster doses previously received,” the report said.