The province shortened the wait for several groups of people to get booster doses of COVID-19 vaccination.

The following groups will now be able to receive a booster shot five months after their second dose, instead of six:

  • Individuals aged 50 years and older
  • Individuals 18 years and older living in the far north and those living on First Nation communities
  • All health care workers
  • Individuals born in 2009 or earlier with underlying health conditions that are clinically extremely vulnerable, including those with diabetes

The province said you are considered fully vaccinated if two weeks have passed since you received either two doses of the two-dose vaccines (Pfizer BionTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna) or one dose of the single-dose shot (Janssen).

"However, it has been observed that individuals may experience waning immunity due to factors like age or underlying conditions that impact the body's ability to mount a strong immune response to the vaccines," said the release. "Fully vaccinated individuals are also at-risk of potential breakthrough infections based on the rate of community transmission. 

"Electing to receive a booster dose may increase your long-term immune response and provide further protection against COVID-19 transmission. It will decrease the risk of contracting COVID-19 and, if you do contract COVID-19, will reduce the risk that you become seriously ill."