- [INAUDIBLE] it's October 1.
NATHANIEL DOVE: Very soon students
will be back in the classrooms and older Canadians will return
to work from summer vacation, but more time indoors
could bring an increase in transmission
of COVID and other viruses.
With new subvariants circulating,
you may be wondering when is the best
time to get a booster shot?
A bioethicist says Canadians need
health advice from the officials that
led us through the pandemic.
KERRY BOWMAN: And I do understand this is not 2020.
Having said that, I think we're getting
an incredible lack of clarity as to what should occur.
NATHANIEL DOVE: The country's national vaccine
advisory committee has said there will be updated boosters
targeting the latest variants in the fall,
but Health Canada hasn't said when they'll
be available to Canadians.
This doctor is hoping for a rise, not a wave in cases,
but says that depends on the shots being available.
GERALD EVANS: My hope is that's going to happen in September.
If it happens in September, that might--
that could help us really stem the tide.
NATHANIEL DOVE: Most people can get one of the jabs
available now.
But if you want a new one, you'll need to wait.
The advisory committee says booster doses need
to be at least six months after your last shot or infection,
whichever is later.
If you're not at higher risk, this epidemiologist
says, hold off for now.
NAZEEM MUHAJARINE: I think waiting
for that new formulation of the booster dose in the fall
will be the way to go because, you know-- because they
already have enough immunity.
NATHANIEL DOVE: Health Canada told
Global News approval and availability
depends on many factors.
Muhajarine says Canadians need the new formulations as soon
as possible because any COVID infection is still serious
and hospitalizations are rising once again.
Nathaniel Dove, Global News.