Bivalent COVID-19 boosters are available for all adults in Ottawa today
Starting today, bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters are available to anyone in Ontario 18 or older.
The vaccine, which targets Omicron variants of COVID-19, was previously made available to certain groups of people, including anyone 70 and older, health-care workers, long-term care home residents and First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals, among other at-risk groups.
Now, anyone 18 and older in Ontario can request and receive a bivalent booster dose. Appointments can be booked through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900. Appointments will be for a local community clinic. There is limited walk-in space for community clinics and people are encouraged to book an appointment.
Ottawa Public Health also has neighbourhood health hubs for residents of certain neighbourhoods.
Eligible individuals can also book an appointment directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating health care providers and participating pharmacies.
The recommended interval for the bivalent booster is 168 days since a previous dose. The minimum interval is 84 days. Individuals who would like to receive their bivalent booster between three months and the recommended six-month interval, or who otherwise have difficulty booking their appointment online, must call the PVCC to book an appointment.
Ottawa's medical officer of health is strongly encouraging residents to get all booster doses for which they are eligible this fall.
"The bivalent COVID-19 booster is another layer that we can use to increase protection against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variants in Ontario," Dr. Etches said in a statement earlier this month.
According to OPH data, just over 207,000 residents of Ottawa have had at least four doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Most people with a fourth dose are 60 or older.
PAEDIATRIC DOSES AVAILABLE
Starting today, the province says the new paediatric Pfizer vaccine will be another vaccine available for children aged between six months to under five years old. Parents and caregivers can continue to book appointments through the same methods as for the bivalent vaccination.
The province says the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for infants and children aged six months to under five years, including those who are immunocompromised, is a three-dose primary series, with a recommended dosing interval of eight weeks between doses.
It is not recommended parents mix doses for children receiving their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine. Children should receive the same product for all their primary series doses, whether it is Pfizer or Moderna.
To date, 16 per cent of children six months to four years in Ottawa have had one dose and one per cent have had at least two.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
NEW Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a family
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.