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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Third and fourth doses starting Feb. 15

Booster doses expanded for young Albertans with health conditions

Feb 15, 2022 | 5:08 PM

Young Albertans with immunocompromising and underlying health conditions can book COVID-19 vaccine booster doses on February 15.

“I know this will be welcome news to young Albertans who live with immunocompromising and other underlying health conditions, and to their parents and families. I encourage all parents and guardians to get their children immunized, whether or not they fall into these high-risk categories,” said Jason Copping, Minister of Health.

Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 with underlying health conditions and all First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth in this age group will be eligible to book a booster (third) dose. In addition, youth aged 12 to 17 with immunocompromising conditions will be eligible to book a booster (fourth) dose.

Eligible underlying health conditions include:

• A missing spleen or a spleen that is no longer working
• Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
• Chronic heart disease and vascular disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease
• Chronic respiratory diseases
• Diabetes requiring insulin or other anti-diabetic medication to control
• Pregnancy
• Severe mental illness or substance use disorder
• Severe obesity
• Severe or profound learning disabilities or severe developmental delay

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All children aged five to 11 who have specific immunocompromising conditions will also be eligible to book a third dose as part of their primary series.

Eligible immunocompromising conditions for all individuals aged five and older are:

• Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy
• Moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (for example, DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced untreated HIV infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or perinatally acquired HIV infection
• Immunosuppressive therapies (for example, anti-B cell therapies, high-dose systemic corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents)
• Transplant recipients, including solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplants
• Chronic kidney disease receiving regular dialysis
• Receiving active cancer treatment (chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies), excluding those receiving only hormonal therapy, radiation therapy or surgery

Alberta Health states these changes follow recommendations from both the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and the Alberta Advisory Committee on Immunization (AACI).

“We want to provide these young Albertans with additional protection against the virus. It is important that all Albertans get immunized with all of the doses they are eligible for to help protect themselves and those around them,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health.

Adolescents ages 12-17 must wait at least five months after their second dose to receive their third dose and another five months for their fourth dose. Children aged five to 11 are recommended to wait a minimum of eight weeks from their second dose to receive their third.

Parents and guardians can book appointments starting Feb. 15 for eligible children online with Alberta Health Services and participating pharmacies by using the Alberta vaccine booking system or by calling 811.