All B.C. youth age 12 to 17 will be sent invitations for COVID booster vaccines and can decide themselves whether to get that third shot, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said.
“After discussion with our British Columbia Immunization Committee and immunization team, we will be sending invites to all 12- to 17-year-olds with information on the benefits and risks of boosters at your six-month interval,” Henry said during a media briefing Tuesday.
On Friday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended booster shots for those age 12 to 17 with underlying medical conditions, vulnerable youth in congregate settings such as group homes and correctional facilities, and youth disproportionately affected by COVID.
NACI based the recommendation on youth in these categories “facing record-high incidence rates of COVID-19 during this new wave, driven in large part by Omicron.”
Henry had said last week that she would review the pros and cons of NACI’s recommendation and look at what other countries were doing.
For all age groups, boosters are advised six months after the second COVID vaccination.
“You will have the ability to make that decision and book yourself and we do continue to strongly recommend anybody who has an underlying condition that puts them at risk does get their booster dose,” said Henry.
Henry said there is a record number of people in hospital in B.C. with COVID-19 and data show vaccines and boosters protect against both infection and severe illness.
Boosters were previously recommended by NACI for moderately to severely immune-compromised youth.
On the heels of NACI’s recommendation, people in the 12 to 17 age group who are clinically extremely vulnerable and have immuno-compromising conditions are advised to have a third dose, then a fourth dose six months after that.
“That will affect some people who are immuno-compromised in that age group and you will be receiving your invitations for that,” said Henry.
Adolescents remain at low risk of severe outcomes from Omicron.
NACI recommendations define underlying medical conditions as everything from youth undergoing cancer treatments or having congenital heart disease to youth who may be obese or pregnant or have substance-use disorders.
The benefits of a booster dose in the general adolescent population are unclear, according to the immunization committee.
“No recommendations for booster doses for the general adolescent population 12 to 17 years of age are being made at this time,” said the guidance.
