NACI’s AstraZeneca booster guidance differs from B.C. plan, but expert says that’s OK

New recommendations from Canada’s expert advisory panel on vaccinations suggest more Canadians should be getting booster shots for COVID-19.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has added more people to its recommendations, expanding on previous guidance for boosters by increasing age eligibility and adding groups that are at higher risk of getting infected.

It has also specifically included people who have received two shots of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, as well as those with the Johnson & Johnson single shot, to its list.

Earlier this week, B.C. became the first province to announce anyone wanting a booster shot would be able to get one. However, in its plan, the province does not make any special considerations for those who have received AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson shots.

The booster rollout is currently underway, with a focus on seniors as well as others deemed “high risk.”

British Columbians with two doses of AstraZeneca or one J&J shot who are under the age of 70 and not deemed high-risk will have to wait until they are eligible for the additional dose, as do people who got two mRNA, which is likely to happen early next year.

Despite this contrast from NACI’s guidelines, immunoengineering expert Dr. Omar Khan says there’s no need to panic.

“The good thing about these policies is that they react to what’s happening in your local region,” explained Khan, who is a professor in the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Immunology.

“We’re at the point where we have really good national rollout of the vaccines. At this point, policy will be much more targeted, based on what’s happening in your region.”

Khan says the need for a booster is of specific importance to vulnerable groups, including those over the age of 70 — which is who B.C.’s plan is centred around.

“And that’s really more so what it is. It’s just that we know with those types of conditions and that age group, it’s just harder to get good immunological memory that lasts a very, very long time,” he said.

Related articles: 

• COVID-19 booster shots available to British Columbians 12+ by mid-January

• NACI says those who received 2 AstraZeneca doses should be eligible for COVID-19 booster

He says policies and plans can change as we move along, noting the importance of re-evaluating based on the current situation.

“Just keep an eye on your local public health authority and see what they recommend, because in some places, that might not be appropriate, but in other places, where there’s a high level of community transmission still, your health officials will look at that and try to equalize the risk across the population,” Khan explained, adding policies are “reactive, and looking at data on the ground.”

He understands some people may feel anxious about vaccines, and wants them to know they aren’t alone. For anyone with specific concerns, Khan recommends reaching out to your doctor to talk things through.

“I think with all NACI recommendations, they are recommendations and they are tiered recommendations. Some are strong, like a third dose for people in long-term care or people with immunocompromised conditions — those are very strong recommendations. Others are discretionary, that means it’s up to your local health unit. But again, the regional health authority will make that final call, and just rest assured that your regional health authority is looking at the data of their region, and looking at this NACI recommendation and making that call in the end,” Khan explained.