Ontario’s health minister says the province expects to receive the first delivery of the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine that protects against the Omicron variant next week.
Health Canada announced today it has approved the new shot from Moderna, which targets both the original strain of the novel coronavirus and the original Omicron variant.
Sylvia Jones says the Ontario government has been working with public health units to make sure doses are ready to be administered once they receive them from the federal government.
Jones says initial shipments will be limited and those most vulnerable – such as long-term care residents and staff – will receive the vaccine first.
Jones says they’ll share a wider rollout plan once additional doses are confirmed to be en route.
Health Canada says there will be enough supply of the shots – called bivalent vaccines – for all Canadians 18 and older to get a dose this fall and winter.
Booster for children
Parents in Ontario can now book COVID-19 booster shots for their children aged five to 11.
The province says appointments became available through the online vaccine portal as of 8 a.m. this morning.
They can also be booked through local public health units as wells as some pharmacies and health-care providers.
Ontario’s top doctor announced Wednesday that the province would start rolling out boosters for kids five to 11 this week.
Earlier this month, Health Canada said it had approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for children in that age group.
The agency said the third dose is to be administered at least six months after the second.
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