All eligible adults in Ontario can book COVID-19 booster shots starting Monday, December 20, as part of an accelerated rollout of third doses that will be the centrepiece of the province’s response to the highly infectious Omicron variant. Eligibility for boosters was shortened from six months to three months — or 84 days — from a person’s second vaccine dose. That time frame will apply to all newly eligible people 18 or older.
The province of Ontario, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is taking further action to protect the health and safety of residents, healthcare workers, and caregivers in long-term care and retirement homes from COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. These temporary measures will help reduce the risk of transmission during the winter months and protect the progress the province has made in stopping the spread of the virus and its variants throughout these settings.
Ontario health units are recommending stronger precautions against COVID-19 as infections rise, including advice to limit indoor holiday gatherings to fully vaccinated guests other than young children. The guidance comes as Ontario’s cases continue an upward climb, more cases of the Omicron variant crop up, and the province’s science experts predict the health system is likely to be strained in the coming weeks.
Nurse practitioners, or NPs, are registered nurses who have completed additional training, education, and nursing experience. It enables them to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication, and do other tasks similar to a doctor that a regular registered nurse cannot. In most parts of Canada, nurse practitioners can work either in hospitals or community settings, including in clinics where they form most of the primary-care providers.
According to Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, the province is reviewing measures to protect residents in the wake of a newly discovered COVID-19 variant of concern. Included in that review is the possible acceleration of the province's third dose vaccine strategy. The top doctor also said that while the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine against the omicron variant is not yet known, the vaccine "is very effective against the delta variant."
Barbara is a Registered Nurse (RN) who works on a cardiology floor in Toronto. She is also an educational content creator and small business owner, whose goal is to inspire and educate nursing students as they start their careers. Recently, she took some time from her busy schedule to speak to our team and answer these questions. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!
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