With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Quebec, Quebec’s Immunization Committee (CIQ) is recommending that vulnerable people be vaccinated this fall.
But experts are asking the CAQ government to wait for a new adapted vaccine that better responds to the new strains of the virus to become available before launching its vaccination campaign.
The CIQ issued its recommendations in a report on Monday for the fall of 2024.
Similar to its previous reports, the CIQ recommends a dose to residents of CHSLDs and private seniors’ residences (RPA), people aged 60 and over, and to those who are immunosuppressed or living with a chronic illness.
Additionally, pregnant women and health care workers should be vaccinated as a priority.
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise since the beginning of the summer. The test positivity rate has climbed to 16.3 per cent in in the province. There are currently 820 patients in hospital who have COVID-19.
The CIQ’s recommendations are based in part on the fact that people aged 60 and over have a higher risk of being hospitalized after contracting the virus. Deaths are also more frequent among the elderly.
Patients who have never had the virus are more likely to develop complications after their first infection.
According to health experts, SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve since it was first detected in 2019. The JN.1 variant was the most prevalent in Quebec as of March of this year, according to the CIQ.
However, the last vaccine administered in Quebec targeted the XBB.1.5 variant, which is no longer in present today.
The CIQ is also asking the government to possibly offer the new vaccine against COVID-19 at the same time as the flu shot.