All children and youth aged 12 to 17 are now eligible to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Manitoba, a state news release said.
The change in policy comes with the following updated recommendations that the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released on Tuesday.
A booster dose should be given at least six months after getting the second shot, the province says.
Previously, children and youth in that age group were only eligible for a third dose in Manitoba if they were black, indigenous or people of color, if they lived in mass living facilities such as shelters, group homes or correctional facilities, or if they had There was underlying health condition.
That policy was also based on NACI. guidance fromwho recommended boosters for those aged 12 to 17 at the time if they were at risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes because of biological or social risk factors, or if they had systemic barriers to access to health care. had to face.
Previously, the province had already recommended that children and adolescents in that age group who are moderately to severely immunized receive three doses for the first series of vaccinations instead of two, followed by boosters. The fourth dose is received.
At the time, youth who did not fit the initial criteria were not eligible for the third dose in Manitoba,
This was because the two doses protect most people in that age group very well from hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit, and death, Dr. Jose Reimer, who was the medical chief of Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force.
Last week, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority announced that Reimer had accepted a new role as its chief medical officer.
It is unclear whether the province plans to hire someone new to Reimer’s role with the vaccine task force.
A provincial spokesman said plans were underway to spread the group’s responsibilities to a wider group of health care professionals.
