Province set to announce fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for nursing home residents
The province will start rolling out fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses to long-term-care residents who will become eligible three months after receiving a booster shot, the Star has learned.The move, to be announced Thursday, comes as the province sees record-high COVID-19 cases because of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. “This is one of the many measures the government is putting in place to protect long-term-care residents and staff,” a government source told the Star.Residents of long-term-care facilities have been eligible for third doses as of last August, and by Dec. 23 some 84 per cent had received it. They are to get their fourth jab three months after their third.Just before Christmas, the Manitoba government issued an update saying that it would provide fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines to people who are immune compromised — including those with cancer or who have had a transplant, or who are on immune-suppressing medications — six months after their third dose.On Tuesday, the Ontario government announced it would temporarily halt visitors to long-term care homes and day absences for social reasons, while still allowing designated caregivers. “We know that long-term-care residents face an increased risk of COVID-19. Given the high community infection rates we’re seeing with the Omicron variant, the time for more action is now,” Minister of Long-Term Care Rod Phillips said in a written statement announcing the new limits that come into effect Thursday.“In addition to the steps we’ve already taken, these new temporary measures will help keep residents safe and help critical staff remain on the job.”The government previously required all visitors to homes be fully vaccinated, and all staff working with residents who have COVID-19 wear fitted, certified N95 masks.A Wednesday email to families with loved ones at Scarborough nursing home Chester Village asked for their consent to give the fourth dose, noting that about one-third had already agreed and the home “would like to get that much higher for better protection for the whole home. This is one way we can help beat the Omicron variant as it surges across our communities.”Michael Garron Hospital had already started planning for fourth doses and reaching out to long-term-care homes such as Chester Village to move fast once approved and announced.Long-term-care residents bore the brunt of the first and second waves of the pandemic in Ontario, comprising about two-thirds of all COVID-19 deaths.Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
The province will start rolling out fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses to long-term-care residents who will become eligible three months after receiving a booster shot, the Star has learned.
The move, to be announced Thursday, comes as the province sees record-high COVID-19 cases because of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
“This is one of the many measures the government is putting in place to protect long-term-care residents and staff,” a government source told the Star.
Residents of long-term-care facilities have been eligible for third doses as of last August, and by Dec. 23 some 84 per cent had received it. They are to get their fourth jab three months after their third.
Just before Christmas, the Manitoba government issued an update saying that it would provide fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines to people who are immune compromised — including those with cancer or who have had a transplant, or who are on immune-suppressing medications — six months after their third dose.
On Tuesday, the Ontario government announced it would temporarily halt visitors to long-term care homes and day absences for social reasons, while still allowing designated caregivers.
“We know that long-term-care residents face an increased risk of COVID-19. Given the high community infection rates we’re seeing with the Omicron variant, the time for more action is now,” Minister of Long-Term Care Rod Phillips said in a written statement announcing the new limits that come into effect Thursday.
“In addition to the steps we’ve already taken, these new temporary measures will help keep residents safe and help critical staff remain on the job.”
The government previously required all visitors to homes be fully vaccinated, and all staff working with residents who have COVID-19 wear fitted, certified N95 masks.
A Wednesday email to families with loved ones at Scarborough nursing home Chester Village asked for their consent to give the fourth dose, noting that about one-third had already agreed and the home “would like to get that much higher for better protection for the whole home. This is one way we can help beat the Omicron variant as it surges across our communities.”
Michael Garron Hospital had already started planning for fourth doses and reaching out to long-term-care homes such as Chester Village to move fast once approved and announced.
Long-term-care residents bore the brunt of the first and second waves of the pandemic in Ontario, comprising about two-thirds of all COVID-19 deaths.
Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy
