COVID-19 vaccines phasing into seasonal vaccine

If you were planning to get a COVID-19 booster this summer, you might have to wait until the fall.

As of July 1, only moderately to severely immunocompromised people and children, as well as transplant recipients of any age, can get the XBB.1.5 dose, either six months from their previous non-XBB.1.5 dose or previous COVID-19 infection.

Everyone else has to wait for the updated vaccine in the fall.

Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said this change is due to phasing the COVID-19 vaccine into a seasonal fall vaccine.

“We’re trying to now get to a schedule where we hope that COVID vaccines will be offered every year along with the seasonal influenza vaccines every fall,” said Shahab.

Those who are eligible can contact public health to get a vaccine earlier.

He said unlike other vaccines the COVID-19 and flu shot are updated every year based on circulating strains.

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“So we expect an updated COVID vaccine to be available in the fall to better match the circulating strains that we expect to see in the fall,” he said. “And that’s the same process that happens with other seasonal vaccines such as influenza.”

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) also announced its pop-up clinics will no longer be available until further notice. At-home test kits are also not being distributed.

“As the number of individuals who remain eligible for vaccine at this time is expected to be low, vaccines are no longer being provided through pharmacies or pop-up clinics,” said the Ministry of Health in an emailed statement.

Adding eligible people can contact their nearest public health office for the vaccine.

“The vaccine uptake was extremely low now and we’re not surprised or concerned by that because we really expect people to get the vaccine in the fall with seasonal vaccines,” said Shahab.

“Overtime we’re aligning these seasonal vaccines to be more available in the fall instead of year-round because that’s where the benefit is most. And also to make sure that people get the latest strain because both these vaccines are updated every fall.”

Although the COVID-19 vaccine is only available for those immunocompromised, Shahab encourages parents to complete their children’s other routine vaccinations.

“Other childhood vaccines are always available year-round, they don’t change from year to year as there’s no strain change that needs to be done,” he said. “So every child should start their routine vaccination programs at two months and complete the vaccination schedule as recommended.”

Shahab wants everyone to have a safe summer and reminds people to stay home when they aren’t feeling well.

“All respiratory viruses are at very low levels (in the province),” he said. “They start in the fall and by spring the rates come to very low levels.”

Shahab said COVID-19 hasn’t completely acquired that seasonal pattern, there is a low transmission of it.

“It’s obviously a concern if you’re immunocompromised where you should continue to take other precautions including vaccinations. But for most people, COVID now presents as a mild respiratory illness,” said Shahab.