COVID-19 BOOSTER

Should I receive a Spring 2023 Covid 19 Booster dose?

Please find the latest recommendations from both NACI and the MOH below. If you have further questions or concerns contact our office for a same day appointment.

NACI now recommends that:

Starting in the spring of 2023, an additional booster dose may be offered 6 or more months from the last COVID-19 vaccine dose or infection to the following individuals who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:
(Discretionary NACI recommendation)
- Adults 80 years of age and older
- Adults 65 to 79 years of age, particularly if they do not have a known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors or those with complex medical care needs
- Adults 18 years of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment

From MOH (LAST UPDATED APRIL 6TH 2023):

Staying Up to date:

For those 6 months – 4 years, means having a completed primary series.
For those 5 years and older, means completion of the primary series and receipt of a booster dose (monovalent or bivalent) on or after September 1, 2022.
o For specific high-risk populations,means completion of the primary series and receipt of a booster dose within the last 6 months.

Booster dose(s) are recommended for all eligible populations

Infants and children 6 months to 4 years are not eligible for a booster dose
at this time.
Individuals 5 years and older who have not yet received a booster dose since September 1, 2022, remain recommended to receive a booster dose if it has been at least six months since their last dose or confirmed COVID-19 infection**. If a booster dose has been received on or after September 1, 2022 (either monovalent or bivalent), there is no current evidence that substantiates the need for an additional dose, beyond the high-risk groups mentioned below (recommended for a Spring 2023 dose). Recommendations for future doses will be issued closer to Fall 2023. This is because of emerging evidence around the strength and durability of protection against severe COVID-19 disease in people with hybrid immunity (previous COVID-19 infection AND COVID-19 vaccine), the high proportion of the population previously infected with COVID-19 as well as the current epidemiology of COVID-19 in 2023.

**A confirmed COVID-19 infection is characterized by positive test or after having symptoms post contact with someone who had a positive test.

• Individuals in specific high-risk populations are recommended to receive a spring booster dose if at least six months (168 days) has passed since their last dose or confirmed COVID-19 infection.10 The following groups are recommended to receive a booster dose this spring:

o 65 years and older

o Residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, elder care lodges, and other congregate living settings for seniors

o Individuals 18 years and older living in congregate care settings for people with complex medical care needs

o Pregnant individuals

o Individuals 18 years and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised

o Individuals aged 55 years and older who identify as FirstNations, Inuit,or Métis and their non-Indigenous household members aged 55 years and older.

Frequently Asked Questions

You will find below some of our most frequently asked questions. We encourage our patients to read through the questions and responses, as well as the resources outlined on this page. Please reach out to our office by telephone if you cannot find an answer to your questions.

What to do if you've been exposed to COVID-19?

We understand it can be frightening to learn that you have been exposed to COVID-19. Current guidelines follow a simple 3 step method:

1. Confirm if you need to isolate.

2. Get tested if you are eligible.

3. Inform others of your exposure.

For more information, the most up to date public health guidelines can be found on the government website linked below.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-health-measures-and-advice

How Do I Get A PCR COVID-19 Test?

Please note, our office is not currently bringing patients into the office who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are looking for a COVID-19 swab. If you believe you may have COVID-19 you may self swab with a rapid antigen test or you may be eligible for PCR testing depending on your risk. Please follow the link the below for the most up to date information including where to get test kits and your eligibility.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-testing-and-treatment

COVID-19 Rapid Swabs for Symptomatic/Asymptomatic Patients

Starting February 9th, Ontario will be distributing 5.5 million rapid antigen tests each week for eight weeks through pharmacy and grocery locations across the province, as well as through community partners in vulnerable communities. Over 2,300 locations will provide tests while supplies last, with a limit of one box of five tests per household.

Participating retailers will receive additional supply each week and have the ability to determine how tests are distributed in order to best serve the community, including through appointment bookings, at checkout or through online orders. If your participating location is out of stock, please check back with them. The province intends to bring additional locations online in the coming weeks, including independent grocers and pharmacies.

There are detailed instructions below on this page for how to self-swab.

To find retailers close to you please visit the link below:

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/rapid-test-locator

Do I Qualify for Antiviral Treatment?

To be considered for treatment, you must have tested positive for COVID-19 (by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid antigen test), and a health care provider must assess you to determine if treatment is right for you, which includes whether or not you are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms.

You may be at higher risk if you are:

over 18 years old and immunocompromised
over 70 years old
over 60 years old with fewer than three vaccine doses
over 18 years old with fewer than three vaccine doses and at least one of the following risk conditions:
- obesity
- diabetes
- heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure
- chronic respiratory disease (including cystic fibrosis)
- cerebral palsy
- intellectual or developmental disabilities
- sickle cell disease
- moderate or severe kidney disease
- moderate or severe liver disease
- pregnant and unvaccinated (zero doses)

If you believe you may be eligible to receive antiviral treatment, we encourage you to complete the screening tool by clicking below.

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-treatment-screener/

I am pregnant or breastfeeding. Should I get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

We understand this can be a confusing decision. Our physicians have found a resource to help with your choice!

https://www.pcmch.on.ca/covid-19-resources/

COVID-19 DOCTORS NOTES

Please note our office is unable to provide COVID-19 related doctors notes for return to school or work. Should you require documentation, below you will find a self-attestation form that can be completed and submitted without doctors signature.

https://www.oma.org/uploadedfiles/oma/media/public/oma-covid-attestation-form.pdf

We appreciate your understanding in this matter as we attempt to keep our patients and staff safe.

Confused about COVID?

Are you feeling confused about the recent changes and recommendations for covid? You are NOT alone. Unfortunately, Omicron continues to place challenges on our community and our health care resources. Here is a great resource that answers many of the questions we all have:

https://dfcm.utoronto.ca/confused-about-covid

Our best defense remains VACCINATION! If you are looking for information on booking a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment please visit the link below,

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/

COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility

First Dose

All individuals aged six months and over are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Booster (Third & Fourth Dose)

A first booster (third dose) will help protect you from more severe outcomes from COVID-19 and its variants. All Ontarians aged 12 and over are strongly encouraged to get their booster dose as soon as possible to keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

If you are 18 and over, you can schedule your first booster appointment at a recommended interval of five months (140 days), or a minimum interval of three months (84 days) after your second dose.

If you are aged 12 to 17, you can schedule your first booster (Pfizer recommended) at a recommended interval of six months (168 days), or a minimum of three months (84 days), after a second dose.

At this time, a booster dose is not currently authorized for children aged six months to 11 years.

Second Booster/Fourth Dose

If you are 18 and over, you can schedule your second booster appointment at a recommended interval of five months (140 days), or a minimum interval of three months (84 days) after your first booster.

While most individuals aged 18 to 59 years old will continue to have strong protection more than six months after their first booster dose, expanding second booster dose eligibility will ensure that Ontarians can make an informed decision based on their personal circumstances.

Ontarians aged 18-59 are encouraged to speak with their health care provider about whether getting a second booster dose now is right for them.

High-risk individuals who should get their second booster dose as soon as possible include:

an individual aged 60 and over
First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals or a non-Indigenous household member aged 18 and over
a resident of a long-term care home, retirement home, or Elder Care Lodge or an older adult living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services

If you choose to receive your second booster as early as three months (84 days) after your first booster, please book this dose through the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, a pharmacy, or directly through public health units that use their own booking systems.

Bivalent Booster Dose

Starting September 12, 2022, bivalent COVID-19 booster appointments will be available to and can be booked for the most vulnerable populations, including:

individuals aged 70 and over;
residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and individuals living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services;
First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over;
moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and over;
pregnant individuals aged 18 and over; and
health care workers aged 18 and over

All Ontarians Aged 18+ Eligible Starting September 26, 2022.

Our office does not have access to the COVID-19 vaccines at this time.

Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and children?

The SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service is a by-appointment phone service that provides a safe, judgement-free space to have an open conversation about the COVID-19 vaccine for children and youth. Click the link below to find out more about this service.

Find out more

COVID-19 BOOSTER

Should I receive a Spring 2023 Covid 19 Booster dose?

Please find the latest recommendations from both NACI and the MOH below. If you have further questions or concerns contact our office for a same day appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

instructions on How to rapid test

COVID-19 TESTING + ISOLATION GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN

COVID-19 TESTING + ISOLATION GUIDELINES FOR ADULTS

COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility

Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and children?