Some Windsor-Essex pharmacists calling on province to expand fourth dose booster eligibility
Some Windsor-Essex pharmacists calling on province to expand fourth dose booster eligibility
A Windsor-Essex pharmacist says expanding eligibility of COVID-19 boosters to allow adults to get a fourth dose if they wish could help avoid a surge of vaccine seekers ahead of a possible fall wave.
Tim Brady, Chairmen of the Ontario Pharmacists Association says they’re calling on the Ontario government to open fourth dose eligibility to anyone 18 years or older.
“It's just being extra precautionary,” says Brady. “It's like insurance on your car, or anything else. I mean, if it's not an inconvenience and you can get in to get the shot, it's not gonna hurt you to get it. Especially if you haven’t had any issues in the first three. The chances of having an issue on the fourth is very small.”
“Because we know that the immunity does wane off after a time so anybody under the age of 60, because you're immunity is going to wear off after a time we don't want people when the fall hits not to have any coverage,” Brady explains.
Currently, fourth doses are only available to Ontarians who are 60 or older.
Only 52.4 per cent of people over age 12 in Windsor Essex have received three doses, according to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit‘s latest vaccine statistics from June 29.
“The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit continues to follow the guidance of the Ontario provincial government for COVID-19 vaccine dose eligibility and schedules. All residents are encouraged to stay up to date with their COVID-19 and other vaccinations,” says an email statement to CTV News the health unit.
“But there are people that want it who now are not being allowed to get it,” says Brady. “So at this point our goal is if someone wants to get the injection to feel safer, we want to make sure we can give it to them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Feds quietly change rules to allow one-time ArriveCAN exemption at land border crossings
The Canadian Border Services Agency is temporarily allowing fully vaccinated travellers a one-time exemption to not be penalized if they were unaware of the health documents required through ArriveCan.

Prosecutor: Stab attack on Salman Rushdie was 'preplanned'
The man accused in the stabbing attack on Salman Rushdie pleaded not guilty Saturday to attempted murder and assault charges in what a prosecutor called a 'preplanned' crime, as the renowned author of 'The Satanic Verses' remained hospitalized with serious injuries.
Average rent up more than 10% in July from previous year, report says
Average rent in Canada for all properties rose more than 10 per cent year-over-year in July, according to a recent nationwide analysis of listings on Rentals.ca.
More than 10,000 Canadians received a medically-assisted death in 2021: report
More Canadians are ending their lives with a medically-assisted death, says the third federal annual report on medical assistance in dying (MAID). Data shows that 10,064 people died in 2021 with medical aid, an increase of 32 per cent over 2020.
LAPD ends investigation into Anne Heche car crash
The Los Angeles Police Department has ended its investigation into Anne Heche's car accident, when the actor crashed into a Los Angeles home on Aug. 5.
Canadian literary figures double down on free speech following Salman Rushdie attack
Canadian writers, publishers and literary figures doubled down on the right to freedom of thought and expression on Saturday, one day after an attack on award-winning author Salman Rushdie that left him hospitalized and on a ventilator.
FBI seized 'top secret' documents from Trump home
The FBI recovered documents that were labelled 'top secret' from former U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to court papers released Friday after a federal judge unsealed the warrant that authorized the unprecedented search this week.
140 lightning-caused wildfires detected in B.C. over last 3 days, service says
Lightning has sparked more than 100 new wildfires in British Columbia since Wednesday, as thunderstorms rolled through the provincial Interior.
Canadian Blood Services in talks around paid donations of plasma as supply dwindles
Canadian Blood Services says it is in talks with companies that pay donors for plasma as it faces a decrease in collections.