Covid 19 Vaccine

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JayneWonders said:
Q: Who is eligible for additional doses for travel?

A: Albertans may be eligible for up to two additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine to meet international travel requirements. Albertans need to research and understand which COVID-19 vaccines are accepted at their destination. Health Link staff is unable to provide travel destination requirements. No proof of travel is required for booking an appointment nor are there restrictions on type of trave
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Yes, I had mentioned this regarding the AB access. But what countries/airlines whatever require 4 doses right now?
I also do find this interesting that they call it 2 additional doses here, on the update they just referred to a 4th dose. As I had 3 primary series, does this mean if I wanted to travel I could access a 5th?
 
Ok, looking at AHS' page gives a bit of a better idea:
Q: Why are some Albertans able to get an additional vaccine for travel?

A: Some jurisdictions outside of Canada have indicated that they will not accept visitors who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca / Covishield or who have received mixed doses.

Additional mRNA doses will be made available to Albertans who are travelling to a jurisdiction that does not accept visitors who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca / Covishield or mixed doses. We recommend all Albertans with international travel plans check the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for their destination.
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So it's less so about needing 4 doses in general and is about needing 2 doses of one mRNA vaccine. I thought they were already allowing for that though although I didn't closely follow all the changes related to people who say started with AZ and were going to travel. I do know my mom got her 3rd dose before she should have gotten it (my dad was turned away, within days of being at 6 months) because she had AZ initially. And then they changed it to 5 month periods right after that anyway, it was a little ridiculous. They also booked through AHS and couldn't figure out why they would allow the booking if they were that strict on the 6 month timeframe.
 
It is no skin off my nose if someone gets an extra booster.
The anxiety of travel is high enough these days, to be worried about whether your vaccination record will pass is something that people should NOT have to deal with.
i can only imagine the challenges presented in trying to discern and sort.
It is good patient management and cost management to put the item in the hands of the individual.

I say, well done Alberta.
 
We got second boosters (4 Pfizer now) yesterday as the Vax Bus was at our local arena - a neighbour alerted us and as a bonus - there was NO line! :-) We are both just a bit before the 5 month published guideline in Ontario - however this was not an issue. They simply noted we were early, and asked for our consent (didn't mention any risks etc - so not really a legally 'fully informed' consent more of an administrative option I think). Guidelines vary in different areas from 4 to 5 months.
 
Ontario's wording is interesting, as it brings it down to 3 months if you choose.
A fourth (booster) dose should be offered to individuals 60 years of age and older who received their third (booster) dose five months (140 days) prior. Individuals 60 years of age and older may receive a fourth (booster) dose at a minimum interval of 3 months (84 days) after their third (booster) dose.

PDF on the topic released on April 6th, 2022

Current Ontario page.
covid-19.ontario.ca

COVID‑19 vaccines

Learn about Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination program and how to book a vaccine.
covid-19.ontario.ca covid-19.ontario.ca
 
For 60 yr olds to be eligible for the fourth dose at 3 months in Ontario, they need to self identify as moderately to severely immunocompromised.

And such a booking can't be done online. There is a phone number to call to make the appointment. It seems that no medical documentation is required.

I discovered this by using the provincial booking system.
 
That's not what the document that Jayne linked says.

Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older

Individuals 60 years of age and older are at increased risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Many of these individuals are several months past their third (booster) dose which may lead to increased vulnerability due to waning immunity. A fourth (booster) dose should be offered to individuals 60 years of age and older who received their third (booster) dose five months (140 days) prior. Individuals 60 years of age and older may receive a fourth (booster) dose at a minimum interval of 3 months (84 days) after their third (booster) dose.
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And my health unit also says that it is 60+, no specification of having to be immunocompromised.

In fact, anyone 12 and older can get a fourth if they are moderately to severely immunocompromised per that document
Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised Individuals
Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and older who received a 3-dose primary series are recommended to receive a fourth (booster) dose after completion of the 3-dose primary series. The recommended interval is 6 14 | Page months (168 days) after the third dose if 12-17 years of age5 or ≥3 months (84 days) after the third dose if 18+
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Yes I saw that. But when you try to book an appointment on the provincial system, you will be asked for your date of birth and the date of your third shot. Then it will tell you the first date you are eligible to book your fourth shot.

I received my third shot January 12. The system told me I become eligible for my fourth shot June 1.

But I also discovered what I indicated above. The immunocompromised can get it at a three month interval. This requires a phone booking and a self-declaration (not medical documentation)

I would have preferred to get my shot earlier for convenience sake. No telling what would happen at a walk-in clinic or the VAX bus.
 
paradox3 said:
No telling what would happen at a walk-in clinic or the VAX bus.
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If you read @Carolla's post upthread (Covid 19 Vaccine) she got her fourth at a VAX bus with no issues and I don't recall her being immunocompromised.

I just tried MLHU's system (they don't use the provincial system but run their own) and it let me start a booking with just a slight fib about my age (I am not yet over 60, got a few years to go still). Nothing about requiring you be immunocompromised. I think there's something messed up with the provincial system or someone missed the memo because their own documents clearly state that 60+ and 3 months post third dose is the minimum, post 5 months the ideal.
 
BetteTheRed said:
I'm tempted to wait until fall for a fourth shot. And get a flu shot about the same time.
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We are the same (well, Mrs. M, since I'm not eligible yet) but things could change that. We might be going to convocation at U of Ottawa in June for starters, which means being in a large group and hanging with Little M and his partner for a few days, maybe even crashing with them. A second booster might help with avoiding the disease on that trip.
 
JayneWonders said:
It is no skin off my nose if someone gets an extra booster.
The anxiety of travel is high enough these days, to be worried about whether your vaccination record will pass is something that people should NOT have to deal with.
i can only imagine the challenges presented in trying to discern and sort.
It is good patient management and cost management to put the item in the hands of the individual.

I say, well done Alberta.
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Meanwhile people with primary immunodeficienciess still can't access paxlovid if properly vaccinated. Alberta Health may say one thing but results are something else.
 
So my five months would be June. But virus waves come in fall/winter, not spring/summer so much, so to me it makes sense to get a COVID booster and a flu shot in September/October. And I'd like to go to Montreal this summer, which might change my decision, but I don't know what to do with the dog.
 
How well does your dog get along with other dogs? How long were you planning to spend in Montreal? I would need to discuss it with Ms C but we would not be much out of your way if you wanted to leave your dog with us. Our dog can be a bit touchy with some dogs but she has learned to like our friend's dog. We hope to do some camping but we will also be spending most of the summer at home.
 
No, she's an impossible dog. With a long, bad history, most of which is not my fault. And other times, my daughter would help, but not now. If my boarder is well enough (she's going for surgery Monday), I might try it. All of this getting old crap, including pets, is just hard to navigate...
 
Mendalla said:
I think there's something messed up with the provincial system or someone missed the memo because their own documents clearly state that 60+ and 3 months post third dose is the minimum, post 5 months the ideal.
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The prov system has been quirky since inception I think. I couldn't even find our local public health clinics listed when I went for prior booster. I ended up just going there as a walk-in - which was fine. Even in earlier efforts to book I found it distinctly unhelpful.

Yes - I 'qualified' on basis of age & 3rd booster was Dec 15 - 114 days prior to visiting the Vax Bus. My partner is over 70, 3rd booster Nov 28 I think it was. Neither of us would be considered 'high risk', immuniocompromised etc. (touch wood on that one - as my mom used to do!) Here is a link to the bus' scheduled 'appearances' - https://www.ontario.ca/page/go-vaxx-bus-schedule
 
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