Third Doses Of A COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Available To Even More People In Ontario

The Ontario government is expanding its list of people who can get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to further protect high-risk populations against the Delta variant.

As a result, with the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Ontario will now offer third doses to the following groups:

• those receiving treatment for solid tumours and hematologic malignancies
• recipients of solid-organ transplants who are taking immunosuppressive therapy
• recipients of chimeric antigen receptor or hematopoietic stem cell transplants
• those with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
• stage three or advanced untreated HIV infection and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• those undergoing active treatment with certain immunosuppressive therapies such as high-dose systemic corticosteroids, alkylating agents and anti-B cell therapies.

The government has also stated that the timing and location of third does will vary based on public health units and high-risk populations.

More than 30,000 third does have already been administered in Ontario so far to those who have already qualified for one, including transplant recipients, patients with hematological cancers, individuals receiving an anti-CD20 agent, and individuals living in high-risk areas like long-term care homes, certain retirement homes, and First Nations elder care lodges.

Health Canada has a robust website with all the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines and can answer any questions you may have.