Three-dose hepatitis B vaccine regimen protects people with HIV National Institutes of Health (.gov)
"You need to read something multiple times often to remember it. Your immune system is the same way. Just one dose is not going to do it. Your immune system needs to see it a couple times," explains Dr. Celine Gounder, Infectious Disease Specialist and Epidemiologist.The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in preventing severe illness in kids and adults.
COVID-19 vaccination updates, including the OPH Weekly COVID-19 Snapshot, enable individuals to have the information to seek maximal protection against the virus as we head into fall. The months ahead are expected to include circulation of several respiratory illnesses that may once again challenge systems with serious illness and disruption of school, work and leisure activities.
On September 12, 2022, the Province of Ontario announced that the new bivalent booster for COVID-19 is now available to Ontarians aged 18 and over. This follows recent approval from Health Canada and aligns with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations on the use of bivalent Omicron-containing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
The bivalent COVID-19 booster is another layer we can use to increase protection against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variants in Ontario. Ottawa Public Health welcomes this announcement amid ongoing COVID-19 activity in our community and potential increases this fall. Over the next few weeks, we will prioritize the rollout of this booster to our communities at highest risk for severe illness, complications and hospitalization from COVID-19. Ottawa Public Health is working with its community partners to ensure the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine can reach those most at risk in our community.
As vaccine protection and immunity from previous infection decrease over time, I strongly encourage all residents of Ottawa to get all booster doses they are eligible for ahead of what may be an active flu and respiratory illness season in our community.
Bivalent COVID-19 booster for adults aged 18 and over
Bivalent COVID-19 booster appointments are available immediately to highest risk populations and to all Ontarians aged 18 and over starting September 26, regardless of how many booster doses you have received.
In order to optimize immune response and duration of protection, an interval of at least 6 months (168 days) is recommended between your last dose of COVID-19 vaccine and your fall booster dose. Individuals may choose to receive the bivalent booster as early as three months (84 days) after their last dose with informed consent.
For those who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), it is recommended you wait three months (84 days) since your symptom onset or positive test before getting the bivalent booster.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria can book their bivalent booster dose through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900. Those wishing to receive their bivalent booster at a shortened interval (less than 6 months) must book directly through the PVCC. Pregnant individuals and health care workers booking from September 12 to 25 must call the PVCC or book booster dose appointments through participating pharmacies. Residents are encouraged to make an appointment as there will be no drop-in capacity for bivalent boosters.Ottawa Public Health has posted appointment availability for the general public up until mid-October while we work to reach those at highest risk over the next two weeks.
Ottawa Public Health is working to make the bivalent booster vaccine available to older adults in long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate care settings. These residents may receive their bivalent booster dose directly through the congregate home where they reside. Ottawa Public Health is also prioritizing First Nations, Inuit and Mtis individuals and health care workers by working directly with community partners and hospitals to make the bivalent COVID-19 booster available and support with targeted clinics.
Being up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine continues to be our strongest protection against COVID-19. Additionally, Ottawa Public Health continues to recommend that individuals:
make a plan in the event you or someone in your household need to self-isolate, learn more about self-isolation here
know if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatment and how to access the treatment as soon as possible and within 5 days from the onset of symptoms.
COVID-19 vaccinations protect people of all ages from symptomatic illness and reduce transmission to others, booster doses build on and restore the protection of the first two doses to lower risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 over time. The risk of longer-term COVID-19 symptoms also appear to be reduced when people are vaccinated.
I want to thank the residents of Ottawa as we continue to work together to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on our community and as the pandemic evolves. Now is the time to ensure those at highest risk receive their bivalent COVID-19 booster reach out to your loved ones or to a neighbour to help them get theirs. For more information on COVID-19, including the bivalent booster, please visit: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVID19Vaccine.
John Irving: A writer's life
Author John Irving has mined his personal history and obsessions as the starting point for such acclaimed works of fiction as "The World According to Garp" and "The Cider House Rules." Now 80, he has published his first novel in seven years, "The Last Chairlift," a tale of sexual politics and ghosts. He talks with correspondent Rita Braver about inspiration, Charles Dickens, and acceptance.
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Halloween themed flu and booster vaccine clinic at North Penn High School 69News WFMZ-TV
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Pentagon has announced they will be making the new Monkeypox vaccine mandatory, but just for the Navy.
"After careful research into how Monkeypox is spread, we have determined the Navy to be at dire risk," said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. "The other branches, meh - should be fine."
The Pentagon became aware of the acute danger Monkeypox presented after the entire crew of the U.S.S. Harvey Milk tested positive last week. "That ship is something out of a nightmare, it's like a haunted house right now," said physician Dr. Ryan Walter. "We heard reports of the first case last week, then all of a sudden - boom! The whole ship goes down. Quite the medical mystery."
The new mandate comes on the heels of the Defense Department losing tens of thousands of soldiers who declined the COVID vaccine. "In a time of historic recruitment struggles, we remain committed to losing even more desperately needed servicemen," said Secretary Austin. "Any mandate we can put in place to further weaken military readiness, we are there. Let's be real though, the Navy actually needs this Monkeypox shot."
At publishing time, Navy servicemen had replied to the mandate saying it's "not funny" and that no one will obey any more orders from Secretary Austin "until he takes off that stupid face shield".
Can this liberal California couple handle a Texas cookout?
