As part of the province’s strategy to prepare for the fall respiratory infection season, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health has increased the age range for children eligible for COVID-19 booster shots for kids aged 5 to 11.
According to Dr. Kieran Moore, those children can schedule their first booster starting Thursday. Then, the parents can make appointments through their local public health departments, participating pharmacies, or healthcare practitioners beginning at 8 a.m. ET.
The announcement coincides with Ontario wastewater statistics showing a modest increase in COVID-19 levels across the province.
On August 19, Health Canada approved COVID-19 booster dosages for kids ages 5 to 11. Ontario had not previously expanded eligibility to include the age bracket, but Saskatchewan and Alberta had.
Moore lists three tips for staying healthy this fall as mandatory isolation drops
Moore urges Ontarians to continue wearing masks when “it’s good for you,” remain current on all immunizations, and stay in their homes if they are ill as the cooler weather approaches.
Moore added, “I’d want to remind Ontarians that wearing a well-fitting mask prevents the spread of COVID-19 and the flu.”
According to Moore, COVID-19 is no longer in a “crisis phase” and now requires long-term maintenance. He asserted that although the seventh wave has peaked, “COVID-19 remains in the community,” Public Health Ontario anticipates that transmission may increase as more individuals stay indoors during the chilly fall months.
According to Moore, if a person tests positive for the virus (or another respiratory virus) but experiences a 24-hour improvement in their symptoms they can return to work or school but must avoid high-risk environments where individuals are vulnerable, such as long-term care facilities.
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