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
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.