The immunization committee’s recommendations come as the province experiences a wave of summer cases and hospitalizations.
The committee recommends boosters for the same groups as it did last year:
- Those living in CHSLDs, RPAs and other communal environments for elderly or vulnerable people
- People 60 and older
- Those who are immunocompromised, on dialysis or living with a chronic illness
- Pregnant women
- Health-care workers
- Adults living in remote or isolated areas, if advised by local public health authorities or community leaders
“For other groups, such as healthy young adults, one dose could be offered,” the recommendations read. “However, the (immunization committee) considers that the benefits of such a dose will be minor, given the very low risk of complications from COVID-19 in this population.”
It noted that hospitalizations related to COVID-19 are most common among elderly people and those with chronic illnesses.
The province’s positivity rate for COVID-19 tests stands at 16.3 per cent, up from a low of 2.1 per cent in early April, according to the Institut national de santé publique du Québec. During the week of July 14, the latest week for which data is available, 790 Quebecers tested positive for the virus. Quebec also reported a total of 820 hospitalizations with and for COVID-19 as of July 16, up from a low of 428 such hospitalizations in April.
The uptick is being driven largely by the KP.3 sub-variant, which is now predominant in Quebec.
For the fall campaign, the immunization committee is recommending Quebec wait for a vaccine adapted to the strains in circulation. It also says the province should not recommend mRNA vaccines over the protein-based Nuvaxovid vaccine, saying both could be offered based on whichever is best suited to variants in circulation at the time.
The committee pointed out that vaccines targeting the XBB.1.5 variant are the most up-to-date, but noted that one targeted to circulating strains should be authorized in time for the fall campaign.
Novavax said earlier this month that it is developing a vaccine that would protect against KP.3 in Canada in time for the fall.
The committee added that primary analyses show the XBB.1.5 vaccine — given out during the fall 2023 campaign for those over 60 — resulted in that group being 43 per cent more protected compared to those who only received a booster of the monovalent or bivalent vaccine during the fall 2022 campaign.
It suggested an interval of six months from the last dose of COVID-19 vaccine or a confirmed infection, with a minimum interval of three months.
“This flexibility aims to facilitate vaccination in fall 2024 and allow a targeted person to receive a dose during this campaign even if they were vaccinated late during the previous campaign,” the recommendations read. “It is not intended to allow the offering of a dose of vaccine every three months. A targeted person should receive no more than two booster doses in a 12-month period.”
The committee also suggested that Quebec offer COVID-19 boosters at the same time as flu vaccines.
It added that recommendations for the fall will be revised if necessary ahead of time or during the campaign as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.