Bivalent COVID-19 booster available in Saskatchewan. residents 18 and over from Thursday

People 18 and older in Saskatchewan can get a dual COVID-19 booster starting Thursday.

The province announced the expanded access on its website Wednesday afternoon.

The Moderna Spikevax bivalent booster provides protection against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the Omicron variant.

The vaccine is available for adults in many provinces, but Saskatchewan had limited access to people 70 and older, or those 50 and older in First Nations and Métis communities and in the northern administrative district. from Saskatchewan.

The Department of Health said the vaccine will be available through appointments booked by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, walk-in clinics and participating pharmacies.

He recommends people wait four months after their previous booster before getting a new dose.

The bivalent vaccine is only available as a booster. Those who have not received a first or second vaccination cannot receive the booster.

The Department of Health has said that for the best immune response, those who have had COVID-19 may want to wait three months after recovery before being boosted.

Bivalent booster provides protection against severe consequences, doctor says

Dr. Raj Bhardwaj told CBC The morning edition Wednesday that the bivalent vaccine “helps your immune system build its memory to fight COVID in general, and then also recognize this BA.1 and other Omicron subvariants.”

« It contains the original vaccine, and that original vaccine is what trained your immune system to recognize and fight off the spike protein from the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Also, that vaccine has been updated to protect us from the spike protein, which has mutated and evolved to bypass our immune defenses as the Omicron BA.1 version of the virus.”

The bivalent booster available in Canada and the UK is different from the versions approved for use in the United States, which targets BA.4 and BA.5.

Earlier this month, Health Canada received nominations from Pfizer and Moderna for their BA.4/BA.5 bivalent boosters.

Bhardwaj said the bivalent booster approved and available in Canada has proven effective.

« The lab studies all show that if you get a BA.1 boost, it also boosts your antibodies against BA.4 and BA.5, which are the ones that are circulating. »

Bhardwaj said people who recently received a different recall should have no buyer’s remorse.

« If you got a booster in the spring or summer like me, then that’s good, it’s protected you all summer. That’s fantastic. »

He said immunity wanes over time and each booster will increase protection against serious illnesses.

Bhardwaj said the initial two doses and a previous COVID infection don’t offer the best protection.

« A booster dose is very protective, especially if you’re over 50, especially if you have other medical conditions, and especially if it’s been six months since your last vaccine dose or your last COVID infection. »