Kati Szego is 62 years old and will soon travel to Portugal. She would feel safer if she got a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, but Newfoundland and Labrador still hasn’t expanded the criteria for getting it.
She therefore decided to take a flight to Quebec to be vaccinated. In these provinces, anyone 18 years of age or older who requests it can receive the booster dose.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, only people who live in community settings, who are 70 years of age or older, or who are Indigenous can get a second booster dose.
I was told a month ago to wait a few weeks for eligibility to be expanded. I did, but now my window is shrinkingsays the one who would like two weeks to have passed before she leaves on a trip to Europe.
She deplores the costs she will have to pay to go to Quebec, not to mention the risks to which she exposes herself by traveling by plane.
It seems ridiculous to meshe says.
” It’s a tough decision, but it’s driven by my sense of vulnerability. “
Favor vulnerable groups
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says discussions are ongoing, but authorities want the most vulnerable groups to receive a fourth dose first.
Dr. Fitzgerald says it expects an increase in cases this fall and wants to accelerate vaccination of vulnerable groups before expanding eligibility criteria.
Researcher and physician at Memorial University, Dr. Brenda Wilsonhas the same concerns and thinks that booster doses will be important within a few months, while immunity from the first booster doses will wane.
If we’re headed for a new wave, let’s make sure we’re protectedshe says.
However, she believes that with the possible emergence of variants and sub-variants of the virus, vaccination may not be enough. Other public health measures, such as mask-wearing, may be needed, she said.
With information fromAlex Kennedy of CBC
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
