Ontario Now Administering 4th COVID-19 Vaccine Doses At LTCs, Congregate Care Settings

The Ontario government has announced it began rolling out fourth doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday to residents who live in long-term care or other congregate care settings.

According to an announcement made Thursday afternoon, the action is being done based on recommendations from Ontario’s immunization advisory committee.

Officials also said as of Jan. 28, third doses will be mandatory for all long-term care staff, support workers, caregivers, students and volunteers because of the “uniquely high-risk nature of long-term care settings.” After the current suspension of general visitors lifts, they said proof of a vaccine booster will need to be shown.

To date, the government reported almost 86 per cent of eligible residents and 47 per cent of eligible staff received their booster shots. As of Dec. 13, barring a medical exemption all staff had to be fully vaccinated to work in long-term care homes.

The statement also said further changes could be ordered “as necessary to keep residents safe.”

The move to provide fourth doses came on the same day the Government of Israel authorized a second booster to vulnerable populations, marking the first country in the world to enact that change