NACI strongly recommends COVID-19 boosters for people over 50
CTV
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is now strongly recommending adults over the age of 50 be offered COVID-19 boosters, while those aged 18 to 49 'may' be offered boosters based on individual risks and where they live.
NACI is also reiterating its previous recommendations to prioritize boosters to those living in long-term care homes; those who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine; certain immunocompromised individuals; adults in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities; and front-line health-care workers who have direct close physical contact with patients.
NACI continues to align with Health Canada’s authorization that either the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines can be offered as boosters for anyone 18 and older, at least six months after the primary vaccine course.
However, citing evidence of lower reported rates of myocarditis or pericarditis following the Pfizer vaccine, NACI is suggesting it is the preferred vaccine to administer as a booster to those ages 18 to 29.
Among the considerations NACI is suggesting be weighed in determining the need for a booster dose include: the local epidemiology, regional health system capacity and access, and rate of vaccine update in the population.
