Who should get the spring COVID-19 booster in P.E.I.?
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — P.E.I. residents who haven’t acquired a COVID-19 booster dose of vaccine since September ought to get one, says the province’s chief public well being officer.
Dr. Heather Morrison mentioned the province is at present within the midst of the spring booster marketing campaign, which runs till Might 31, as advisable by the Nationwide Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).
The present dose options the bivalent omicron-containing mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
“Mainly, beginning in September 2022 all of the booster vaccines given in P.E.I. had been bivalent,” Morrison informed SaltWire on April 17. “So, if you happen to had your (final) needle earlier than September you would want a bivalent dose.”
The spring booster marketing campaign ends in Might as a result of well being officers contemplate that to be the tip of the respiratory virus season.
No choices have been made on boosters following this marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, Morrison mentioned NACI can be making a suggestion within the subsequent few months on whether or not there can be a booster dose vaccine for the 2023-24 respiratory virus season.
That call can be based mostly on elements similar to the place COVID-19 numbers are trending.
“We do anticipate NACI will give us a suggestion on a fall booster shot.”
The Numbers
Following are the most recent COVID-19 numbers in P.E.I.:
- Between April 9-15, there have been 84 new instances.
- The median age for that week was 75 years of age.
- The median age for 2023 is 61 years of age.
- The common variety of checks per day April 9-15 was 79.
- The proportion of optimistic checks was 11.5 per cent.
- One new demise associated to COVID-19 was reported in the course of the week of April 9-15.
- There have been 15 deaths in 2023 associated to COVID-19.
Supply: Authorities of P.E.I.
Morrison mentioned Islanders who not been vaccinated since September 2022 and need that vaccine must get it by the tip of Might so they’re eligible for a fall vaccine.
“You would want that six-month wait interval (between vaccine doses). What we actually need to do for the particular person is have them tremendous protected subsequent winter.”
Morrison mentioned her workplace is pleased with the extent of vaccination protection in P.E.I. — 93 per cent of the eligible inhabitants has acquired the COVID-19 vaccine and 94 per cent of the inhabitants, 60 years of age and older, has acquired a booster.
“That’s good. We’re happy with that. We’re getting near 70 per cent of these 60 years of age and older have acquired 4 doses of the vaccine.”
Morrison mentioned the bivalent booster shot is out there to anybody 12 years of age and older and to kids between 5 years of age and older who’re thought-about high-risk for extreme COVID-19.
Others who also needs to get the vaccine embody adults dwelling in long-term care properties and congregate dwelling settings, folks aged 65 to 79 years of age who haven’t any recognized prior historical past of SARS-CoV-2 an infection, these 80 years of age and older and anybody who is eighteen years of age and older who’s reasonably to severely immunocompromised.
Dave Stewart is a well being reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He might be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @DveStewart.
