Health Canada has announced they have approved Pfizer booster doses for adults, over a month after Pfizer first submitted their approval request.
Anyone 18 or older may receive a COVID-19 booster shot after their primary vaccine series of two doses.
The full dose booster shot (30mcg) is authorized to be used at least six months after an individual has completed their primary vaccine series.
Those who wish to receive a booster can receive it between six to eight months after their Dose 2 vaccination—timing on when you will receive a booster will depend on one’s risk and interval from Dose 2. The largest high-risk populations are those aged 70+ and Indigenous Peoples.
BC plans to start vaccinating higher risk populations now and then move to the broader
population by mid-January 2022.
Health Canada said that through their independent review of the evidence, they determined that the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine booster shot meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.
Third doses have been distributed to both vulnerable and clinically-vulnerable British Columbians since mid-September; and in October, they were approved for moderately to severely immuno-compromised patients.
In October, Dr. Bonnie Henry said that a booster dose will not affect anyone’s BC vaccine card status – two doses means you are fully-vaccinated.
Henry said that booster doses will be optional and mostly recommends the booster shots for vulnerable populations or for people in communities with high rates of transmission.
The province said it is looking to diversify who can distribute booster vaccinations as well. This will include allowing pharmacies, community partners, and large groups of immunizers from many health professions to deliver vaccines.
