Ontario: Starting from Monday, everyone aged 12 and over is eligible to take Pfizer-BioNTech’s bivalent COVID-19 booster shots in Ontario.
Appointments in this regard can be booked through the Province’s COVID-19 vaccine portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900. Eligible individuals can also book through public health units and some pharmacies can also book such appointments.
“The colder weather is here which means an increase in respiratory illnesses. Getting vaccinated remains the best defence against the flu and COVID-19 to help keep Ontarians healthy and out of hospitals,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
The province will receive the first shipment of the Pfizer biovalent Omicron vaccine from the federal government this week. The vaccine was approved by Health Canada last week everyone aged 12 years and above.
It can be given up to three to six months after the second dose of the initial vaccine series or a recent booster shot.
Modifia’s combination shot, approved five weeks ago, targets the original virus and the first omecron variant, while Pfizer’s shots are useful for the BA·4 and BA·5 strains.
The health officials say that people over the age of 60 can take antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid if they show symptoms of Covid-19.
Health officials in Ontario are also warning people about respiratory diseases occurring in the flu season.
Meanwhile, from November 1, vaccine shots will also be provided by health care providers, public health units and at particular pharmacies.