N.L. expands COVID-19 booster eligibility, adds bivalent vaccine for groups at increased risk – CBC

Province expects to receive 63,000 doses of vaccine tailored to Omicron strain this month

Sep 14, 2022

Newfoundland and Labrador Public Health has expanded eligibility for another COVID-19 booster to anyone five years old and up who hasn’t had a dose in the last 20 weeks, regardless of how many previous doses they’ve had.

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, provincial chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said anyone who fits the new criteria should get a booster.

“The evidence shows that a longer interval of 20 weeks between doses provides more long-lasting protection against severe disease than a shorter interval,” Fitzgerald said.

Cold and flu season is approaching, noted Fitzgerald, and it will be the first since the winter in three years without public health restrictions. She said any booster administered on or after Sept. 21 will be considered a fall or winter COVID-19 vaccine.

She said Public Health anticipates a COVID-19 surge later this fall but isn’t seeing any signs of increased infections yet.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/covid-nl-sept-14-2022-1.6582494