• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
South Muskoka Doppler

South Muskoka Doppler

Read Local

  • Home
    • All Stories
    • Community Guidelines
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Community
  • Commentary
    • Letters
  • Business
    • Professionally Speaking
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
  • Events
    • Event Listings
    • Add Your Event
  • Speak Up, South Muskoka!
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • North Muskoka
  • Art Fx
You are here: Home / News / COVID-19 second booster dose eligibility expands to individuals 18 to 59 years
(Spencer Davis/Pixabay)

COVID-19 second booster dose eligibility expands to individuals 18 to 59 years

By Doppler Submitted On July 14, 2022 News

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

From the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit:

As of today, eligibility for a second COVID-19 booster dose has expanded to include anyone aged 18 to 59 years who has received their first booster dose five months (140 days) or a minimum of three months (84 days) ago. Although protection against severe illness remains strong more than five months after a first booster dose, a second booster for those 18 to 59 years can add an extra layer of protection for those that want it based on their personal health and social circumstances. Second booster doses continue to be highly recommended for individuals 60 years or older, those who are immunocompromised, and Indigenous individuals and their non-Indigenous household members 18 years and older.

“With the rising rate of transmission of the Omicron BA.5 subvariant and the risk of reinfection, it is extremely important for individuals to firstly ensure that they have the first booster (third dose). For those who are 60 years and older, a second booster is also recommended. Now, for those aged 18 to 59 years, they are eligible to receive a second booster based on personal choice. The benefits are greatest for those who have pre-existing medical conditions and are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19, or if they are around medically vulnerable persons,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s medical officer of health. “Staying up to date and receiving all vaccinations you are recommended for, including booster doses, offers the most important layer of protection and reduces the risk of severe illness and hospitalization if you become infected with COVID-19.”

COVID-19 vaccine is widely available throughout the area, including by appointment at the health unit’s offices in Midland, Orillia, Cookstown, Collingwood, Huntsville and Gravenhurst, the health unit’s community clinic located at Georgian Mall in Barrie (by appointment and walk-in), and at the RVH COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie (by appointment and walk-in). New dates continue to be scheduled for pop-up and GO-VAXX bus clinics for booster doses as well as first or second doses of COVID-19 vaccine to those aged five years of age or older. Appointments are recommended and can be booked through the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Up-to-date details for the above clinics are available on the health unit’s website and social media accounts.

Other options for receiving your booster include appointments or walk-ins at select pharmacies, and appointments through the Couchiching Ontario Health Team Clinic, some health care providers, and some family health teams.

Along with vaccination, the health unit continues to strongly recommend that people take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including choosing outdoor activities and socializing outside if possible, wearing a mask in indoor public settings, limiting your number of close contacts, physically distancing from people outside your household, ensuring good ventilation, and practising proper hand hygiene. If you are feeling unwell, stay home and get tested if you have access to either rapid antigen tests or are eligible for PCR testing. 

Free rapid antigen test kits are available at participating grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as workplaces, schools, hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes and other congregate settings.

People who are experiencing symptoms and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 may be eligible for treatment with antivirals. To find out if you are eligible and should be assessed for treatment, use Ontario’s online antiviral screener tool. If required, an assessment can be done at a clinical assessment centre or by contacting your health care provider. 

For more information about COVID-19 and details about where and how to get your vaccination, please visit our website at www.smdhu.org/COVID19.

Don’t miss out on Doppler!

Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!

Click here to support local news

Reader Interactions

Join the discussion:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All comments are moderated. Please ensure you include both your first and last name and abide by our community guidelines. Submissions that do not include the commenter's full name or that do not abide by our community guidelines will not be published.

Primary Sidebar

  • Recent Stories
  • Popular
  • August 6, 2022 3

    Is Muskoka going to the dogs?

  • August 8, 2022 2

    Muskoka Lakes considers indoor lighting restrictions

  • August 15, 2022 2

    An open letter to the Premier | Commentary

  • July 27, 2022 1

    One person dead, one injured in Bracebridge shooting

  • August 12, 2022 1

    Council considers basketball courts in Bala

  • August 19, 2022 0

    Last call! Deadline to file to run for school board or council is 2 p.m.

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Torrance Barrens introducing limited number of campsites, reservation system

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Art Fx  “Winter Glow” by Tom Clark

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Boomtime Gravenhurst the setting for Shakespearean drama 

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Break and enter foiled in Gravenhurst

  • 2021 Federal Election (1)
  • A Sponsored Profile (6)
  • Advertise (1)
  • Art Fx (14)
  • Breaking (2)

Footer

About Doppler

Established by a bunch of local news hounds, Doppler strives to be the go-to source for people wanting to know more about what is going on their community.

We strive to provide local news that is relevant and timely. We also look to tell local stories that inspire, inform and engage.

Notice the persistent use of the word local? Our mantra is local. South Muskoka Doppler serves the communities of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Muskoka Lakes with features on local people doing extraordinary things, local business spotlights, news and sports coverage, all supplemented by provocative opinion pieces on topics near and far. We are working hard for you.

Feel free to drop us a line at matt.driscoll@doppleronline.ca and tell us how we are doing, what you would like to see more of, or to just say ‘Hi’.

Thank you for reading Doppler.

South Muskoka Doppler – READ LOCAL
A division of C3 Digital Media Group Inc.

Bracebridge Ontario Canada
August 19, 2022, 10:29 am
Sunny
Sunny
23°C
real feel: 26°C
current pressure: 1020 mb
humidity: 60%
wind speed: 1 m/s SSE
wind gusts: 2 m/s
UV-Index: 5
sunrise: 6:23 am
sunset: 8:18 pm
© 2022 AccuWeather, Inc.
 

Recent Comments

  • Kathryn Sauro on An open letter to the Premier | Commentary
  • Dinny McCraney on An open letter to the Premier | Commentary
  • Turk Gruman on Council considers basketball courts in Bala
  • Jackson Triggs on Wakes, noise and speed: Lakes survey reflects growing frustrations
  • Robert Dyment on Graydon Smith faces charges laid by private citizen
  • brian sisler on One person dead, one injured in Bracebridge shooting
  • RJR on What on earth has happened to us? | Commentary
  • RJR on Is Muskoka going to the dogs?

Copyright © 2022 ·Doppler Online, a division of C3 Digital Media Group Inc. · Log in
  • About
  • Support Local News
  • Advertise with us!
  • Community Guidelines
  • Contact