While the sanitary measures have almost all disappeared, Quebec is preparing its weapons in case the COVID-19 is back in force this fall. Two new opinions from the Quebec Committee on Immunization (CIQ) have just been published, and the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) maintains that it is “preparing accordingly”.
In a press release sent Monday afternoon, the MSSS claims that he takes note of the two new opinions, one of which, dated June 8, recommends planning a new wave of vaccination from the end of summer 2022 for fall.
This campaign would this time target people aged 60 and over; people 5 years and older who are immunosuppressed, on dialysis or living with a chronic disease; healthcare workers; pregnant women; and adults living in remote areas.
This vaccination is recommended, writes the CIQ, even if people have already received one or two booster doses in the spring of 2022, while respecting a minimum interval of 3 months after the last dose or after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
As many Quebecers will have already received one or two booster doses by then, it will therefore be a question, for those who agree to the exercise, of a fourth dose, or even a fifth, since the beginning of the Quebec government’s vaccination campaign, which began at the end of 2020.
A paradigm shift
These terms – fourth dose, fifth dose – are however not used in the documents of the CIQ which, in its second opinion dated June 9, rather proposes to define what constitutes a basic vaccination against COVID-19 and of consolidate this one by periodic vaccination campaigns.
Thereby, for adults with no history of infection, the primary vaccination of two doses, followed by a booster dose, constitutes the basic vaccination against COVID-19Write the CIQ. It specifies that the number of doses required varies by age, medical history, and history of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Subsequent doses will aim to restore immunity which may wane over timehe explains, and these doses will be offered mainly according to periodic vaccination campaigns, rather than the number of previous doses received or a history of infectionhe adds.
If a person has received the recommended doses for their basic vaccination against COVID-19, they would receive an additional booster dose only if they belong to one of the groups targeted by an immunity boosting campaigncites as an example the CIQ.
The scenario could still change
As there are still many uncertainties regarding the evolution of the circulation of influenza and COVID-19 viruses over the coming months and the effectiveness or availability of vaccinesthe recommendations of the CIQ could be updated during the summer, points out the MSSS in his press release.
Furthermore, the possible availability of a vaccine adapted to the Omicron variant could imply a revision of the fall vaccination strategywrites the ministry, which recalls that the offer of a basic vaccinationaccessible on the Clic Santé portal, remains in progress for all Quebecers.
Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are currently working to develop a more effective COVID-19 vaccine against the Omicron variant, which has been shown to be particularly contagious since its detection in South Africa in late 2021.
In the meantime, a fourth dose of “regular” vaccine has been offered since the beginning of May to all Quebecers aged 18 and over as well as to immunosuppressed or dialysis patients aged 12 and over.
Radio Canada
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
