Our province is now recommending a COVID-19 booster dose for youth who are at a higher risk of severe illness.
The move is based on a recommendation by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
NACI is now recommending Pfizer boosters for youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who:
– have an underlying medical condition that may put them at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, including those who are immunocompromised and who have already received a three-dose primary series (for adolescents who are immunocompromised, a booster dose would be their fourth dose)
– are residents of congregate living settings, including shelters, group homes, quarters for migrant workers and correctional facilities
– belong to racialized or marginalized communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Health Canada has not yet approved the vaccine for this use in this age group, but NACI says the early findings in other parts of the world show no different safety concerns than those from the primary series of vaccines.
“The majority of adolescents 12 to 17 in Nova Scotia do not need a booster dose as they are at low risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes if they are fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “However, for some, the benefit of receiving a booster dose ahead of further approvals outweighs the risk of getting COVID-19.”
Families with children 12 to 17 who do not fall into the groups above are also eligible for a booster with informed consent.
NACI also has new advice on vaccine timing for people who have tested positive. If you’ve had COVID and are not vaccinated you should wait at least two months.
It’s three months if you’re double-vaxxed.
