It's time for a new COVID-19 vaccine strategy in Ontario, experts urge
When first and second doses became available, Ontario - and Canada at large - was the envy of the world in how quickly the population got vaccinated, said Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist and member of the province's science advisory table.
Two doses are effective at preventing severe illness, but three doses can cut the risk of infection even against the Omicron variant and are still important, Razak said. Infection means people can't work, kids can't go to school, and brings a risk of lingering complications known as long COVID. “It is not sufficient to have, you know, me - a boring, middle-aged doctor - get on TV and say, 'Get your vaccine,' or a senior political or public health official give a press conference and change policy at 3 p.m. on a weekday.”
“Of course, if there's time pressures ... you can use that mass vaccination strategy. But every year and every time it shouldn't be a mass vaccination strategy. It should be closer to influenza.” Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, the medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, said he is developing contingency plans to redeploy staff to mass vaccination clinics for whenever fourth doses are more broadly rolled out. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is expected to release guidance on fourth doses in early April.
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