press release

Province opens eligibility for bivalent COVID-19 vaccine

Point Edward, ON – Beginning Monday, Sept. 12, the Province of Ontario will open eligibility for a booster dose of the Moderna Spikevax Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to priority groups of the population. This announcement follows Health Canada’s approval of the bivalent vaccine on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Starting today at 8:00 a.m., bivalent COVID-19 booster appointments became available to be booked for the most vulnerable populations, including:

  • Individuals aged 70+
  • First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18+
  • 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
  • Immunocompromised individuals aged 12+
  • Pregnant individuals aged 18+
  • Health care workers aged 18+

To prioritize distribution to these populations, new booster appointments for Ontarians aged 18 and over will be paused until September 26, when all individuals over the age of 18 will be eligible to receive the bivalent vaccine.

However, to allow for convenient planning and preparation, individuals 18 years of age and older who do not belong to a priority population can start booking their appointments today. All previously booked booster appointments for September 12 to 25 will be honoured.

Eligible individuals are recommended to receive this booster at an interval of 168 days (6 months) after receiving their primary series or previous booster of Health Canada authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Appointments can be booked online through Lambton Public Health (LPH) at GetTheVaccine.ca. If you require assistance with booking, please contact us at 226-254-8222. Call Centre Hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

Clinics will continue to be held at the LPH Main Office, the Point Edward Optimist Hall, the Shores Recreation Centre in Forest, and the Wyoming Fairgrounds. Other COVID-19 vaccination options include participating pharmacies and select primary care providers for all eligible individuals.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, Dr. Kieran Moore, encourages individuals to speak with their health care provider regarding any questions they may have about the expanded eligibility.

More information on COVID-19 is available via the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Lambton Public Health reminds you that masks are still required in clinical settings. If you can, please continue to mask where required. Please remain home if you are sick and rebook your appointment for a later date. Additional information regarding vaccine eligibility can be found on our website. Vaccines remain the best way to prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes and reduce the strain on our healthcare system.

About the Bivalent Vaccine

Bivalent vaccines target two coronavirus strains. The Moderna Spikevax Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine targets the original COVID-19 strain and the Omicron variant, specifically the BA.1 subvariant.

Bivalent and multivalent vaccines (e.g. influenza vaccine) are common, as they create a broader immune response and improve the strength and duration of protection against circulating variants.

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Please contact:

LPH-media-inquiries@county-lambton.on.ca