COVID-19 boosters recommended for the fall, Canada's vaccine advisory body says

People at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19 infection should be offered a booster shot this fall, regardless of how many boosters they've previously received, theNational Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) said on Wednesday.

That group includes everyone age 65 and older,NACI's updated guidance said.

Everyone else age 12 to 64 "may be offered" the additional doses in the fall, NACI said.

NACIsaid it will provide recommendations on the type ofboosterto be given whenevidence about multivalent vaccines which primethe body's defences againstmultiple variants, including Omicron and itssubvariants becomes available.

"Manufacturers are working on new COVID-19 vaccines, including multivalent vaccines and vaccines specifically targeting VOCs [variants of concern],although their exact characteristics and timing of availability in Canada are not yet known," NACI said.

World Health OrganizationDirector GeneralTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesussaid in astatement onWednesdaythat Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5have caused COVID-19case numbers to rise in 110 countries, "causing overall global cases to increase by 20 per cent."

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, has also said those Omicron subvariants appear to be on the rise in this country.

On Tuesday, advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that the next wave in COVID-19 booster shots should include a component that targets Omicron to combat the more recently circulating subvariants.

NACIrecommended that booster shots happen in the fall because, as with otherrespiratory viruses, "incidence of COVID-19 may increase in the later fall and winter seasons," and new variants of concern could emerge.

WATCH | Quebec sees rise of COVID-19-related hospitizations:

COVID-19 vigilance urged as hospitalizations increase in Quebec

2 years ago

Duration 2:02

Despite more COVID-19 hospitalizations and new variants, Quebec's public health director does not plan to renew public health restrictions, but says people should remain vigilant.

In addition to those 65 years and older, NACIstrongly recommends a fall booster for:

• Long-term care residents.
• People with underlying medicalconditions, including cardiac disease, diabetes, cancer and kidney disease.
• People who are immunocompromised.
• People who are pregnant.
• Adults who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 (including racializedcommunities).
• Adults who are marginalized (including people with disabilities).
• Adults from First Nations, Inuit and Mtis communities.
• Residents of congregate living settings, including group homes, shelters, correctional facilities and quarters for migrant workers.

Health officialsemphasize thatthree doses of the current approved vaccinescontinue to provide good protection against severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and death.