Today, Health Canada announced that they have approved the use of COVID booster shot. This approved shot will be Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine. All the adults in Canada aged 18 and older will be eligible for this 3rd vaccine shot. Furthermore, this booster shot will be given at least 6 months after the inoculation of 2nd vaccine. It is half the dose of regular vaccine (50 mcg). There were long discussions on using third vaccine dose as a booster for quite some time. It was reportedly required because double dose of approved vaccines were comparatively less effective against newly mutated Delta and Delta plus variants.
Moderna submitted this booster dose for approval of the Health Canada on October 6, 2021. As per the department, “After a thorough, independent review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine booster shot meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.” This booster shot is announced at the time when more than 85% of Canadians are fully vaccinated. At this time, it’s unclear that if this booster shot will become mandatory for travelers in the future, to be considered fully vaccinated or not.