Public health to begin third dose vaccinations for specific groups Aug. 23

GUELPH – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health will begin offering third dose COVID-19 vaccinations to a specific population beginning Aug. 23.

Third-dose vaccines will be available for:

• transplant recipients, including solid organ transplants and stem cell transplants;
• patients with hematologic cancers like lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia, and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy or other targeted therapies; and
• recipients of anti-CD20 agents, such as rituximab, ocrelizumab and ofatumumab.

There must be a minimum of eight weeks between second and third shots for patients in this group. Patients should contact their healthcare provider for more information.

Residents of high-risk congregate settings, including long-term care homes, higher-risk licensed retirements homes, and First Nations elder care lodges, can also receive third doses. There must be a minimum of five months between second and third doses and clinics will be set up within the home or in a mobile clinic on the property.

Folks in this category will be contacted directly.

While there have been rumblings that booster shots may be necessary within the general population as well, public health is focusing on getting first and second doses into arms.

Right now, the vaccine is available to anyone born in 2009 or before and everyone is encouraged to get two doses.

It is expected that the vaccine will be approved for ages five and up sometime this fall.