Booster doses should be given with an interval of six months between completing an initial series and a first booster dose or between booster doses, according to Middlesex London Health Unit. “That’s the one we think is important to get because that’s the one that’s circulating the most in the community,” said Mary Lou Albanese, director of environmental health and infectious diseases at Middlesex Health Unit in London. Albanese said as we head into the fall and winter months, the health unit is encouraging people to get vaccinated as there are few health measures for COVID-19 in the province. “In the coming months, we will see an increase in the disease in the community. And if it’s been three to six months since your last dose, your immunity is weakened, meaning it’s down and you’re more prone to respiratory illnesses.” Vishal Mehta, a pharmacist at Yurek Pharmacy in London told CTV News that they have seen less demand for people wanting to get their booster doses. However, people are starting to have more questions about this particular vaccine, Mehta said. “The bivalent vaccine we offer is shown to be more effective against the microbe that is BA.1 and BA.4, BA. 5 variant and it continues to be more effective over the original variants as well,” said Mehta. As of Friday, bivalent COVID-19 booster appointments are still available in “high-risk populations,” including:
People aged 70 and over Residents of long-term care homes, nursing homes, and people living in other complexes that provide assisted living and health services First Nation, Inuit and Métis people and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over Moderately to severely immunocompromised persons aged 12 years and older Pregnant people aged 18 and over Healthcare workers aged 18 and over.
The bivalent vaccine is currently available at the Agriplex mass vaccination clinic until Thursday, September 29. The bivalent vaccine is available at all MLHU clinic sites, including the Health Unit’s Mass Immunization Clinic at the Caradoc Community Center in Mount Brydges and its community COVID-19 Immunization Clinics.
Appointments are required to receive a dose of bivalent vaccine at these locations and can be made online or by calling 226-289-3560.
