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

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has released more guidance to provinces and territories on COVID-19 booster doses.

The committee says third doses of an mRNA vaccine may be offered to people who received the first two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

NACI also says boosters may also be offered to any adults in First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities, frontline healthcare workers with a short interval between their first two doses, and any adults between the ages of 70 and 79.

The updated guidance follows previous recommendations that third doses be offered to certain high-risk groups at least six months after their second shot. This includes those over the age of 80 and adults living in long-term care settings.

RELATED: COVID-19 booster shots in Ontario: Who is eligible for a third dose and how to get it?

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says they are still not recommending boosters for the general population.

“At this point in time there is no evidence of any widespread waning of protection against severe disease in the general population,” says Tam.

The latest recommendation did says the emerging evidence suggests vaccine effectiveness against asymptomatic infection and mild COVID-19 disease may decrease over time, and a booster could help restore protection.

Tam says despite ongoing discussions on the topic, there is currently no plan to change the definition of fully vaccinated.

Eligibility for boosters “could be different in each province and territory as each area considers advice and their own unique circumstances and epidemiology,” says NACI.

Health Minister Christine Elliott advised that Ontario will release their own plan on rolling out booster shots next week.

“We intend to release our plan that will provide information to all Ontarians on when they can expect to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Elliott in a tweet.

There are currently three categories of eligibility for a third does in Ontario — seniors in congregate settings, those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and those on specific immunosuppressant medications.

RELATED: Majority of Ontario parents eager to get children vaccinated: poll

On his trip to Europe, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked if richer countries like Canada should pause boosters so that more of the world can get fully vaccinated. Trudeau seemed to dismiss this by noting that Canada has made significant vaccine donations to help developing countries.

Earlier this week, British Columbia became the first province to announce anyone wanting a booster shot will have access to one.

The general B.C. population over 12 years of age will be eligible to receive their booster six to eight months after receiving their second dose.

The province will start distributing boosters through a phased approach, which has already started this month and is expected to run until May.

Health Canada says it will likely be mid to late November before there is a decision on the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.

With files from the Canadian Press and CityNews report Cormac Mac Sweeney