Ontario will launch its expanded eligibility plan for a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and update its testing strategy in an announcement Wednesday.
Chief Medical Officer for Health Dr Kieran Moore will talk about when adults aged 18 to 59 will have access to fourth vaccines against COVID-19.
He will also talk about the province’s free rapid antigen test distribution program, which expires on July 31.
Unlike Quebec, the United States and several other provinces, Ontario does not allow health care workers and non-immune-compromised adults to receive fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ontario opened third-dose eligibility to all adults almost seven months ago.
Eligibility includes group care residents, a select group of immunosuppressive conditions, Indigenous people and anyone over 60 years of age.
Epidemiologists in Ontario are divided about the value of offering a fourth dose now versus waiting until the fall, when federal health officials expect the country to face another wave of COVID-19 transmission.
But Ontario and the rest of the nation are already in a wave this summer, led by the BA.5 subvariant of the coronavirus.
The delay, debate and disparity in eligibility between Ontario prompted one Ottawa family physician, Dr. Neely Kaplan-Myrt, to threaten legal action if the province does not soon expand eligibility for doses.
She told CP24 on Tuesday that her legal team is waiting to see what Ontario’s plan looks like, as whatever is announced may not include opening eligibility for a fourth dose to all adults.
Moore is due to speak at 11am from Queen’s Park.
CP24 will broadcast the update live and online.
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