Nova Scotians between the ages of 50 and 69 will be eligible to book a second booster as of next week, even though public health recommended they wait a bit longer.
At a media briefing Monday, the deputy chief medical officer of health said virus activity in the province is currently fairly stable, but a resurgence is expected this fall and winter, once the weather gets cooler and people start spending more time inside.
"Although the vaccine's protection against infection with the virus has decreased, what we know is that it still offers strong protection against severe disease," explained Dr. Shelley Deeks.
"So the ideal time for a booster will be in close proximity to the next surge to best protect people from both infection as well as severe disease."
It's also possible new vaccines will be available by then.
"They're not yet authorized or licenced in Canada, but these vaccines may have broader protection against Omicron," Deeks added. "If you received your booster dose now, that's going to impact the timing of subsequent doses."
However, Deeks said some Nova Scotians in this age group have made it clear they don't want to wait.
"So the government made the decision to open up the eligibility to allow these people to make an informed choice for themselves," she said.
Appointments will be available for this demographic as of Friday, July 8.
They can choose either Pfizer or Moderna, and Novavax will be available for those who can't get an mRNA vaccine.
At least 168 days must pass between first and second booster doses.
Appointments can be booked online or by calling 1-833-797-7772.
