Banff 
Immunocompromised Albertans can book a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine starting Jan. 20th, announced Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health today.
Based on the guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and the Alberta Advisory Committee on Immunization (AACI), individuals aged 18 and older who have specific immunocompromising conditions can receive a booster five months after receiving their third dose.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw said, “Individuals with certain immunocompromising conditions can benefit from a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose. With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, we want to provide these Albertans with additional protection against the virus.”
Immunocompromised individuals include those undergoing chemotherapy, recipients of solid-organ transplant, those who are taking immune-suppressing medication, among other groups.
Unlike the general population, where a two-dose series of mRNA vaccine is considered as primary vaccine series, moderately to severely immunocompromised is recommended a three-dose primary series. Hence the fourth dose is the booster dose for this section of the population.
Fourth doses are not approved for youth ages 12 to 17 with immunocompromised conditions.
According to the news release, more than 80,000 Albertans will be eligible for the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Qualifying immunocompromising conditions:
Immunocompromising conditions that qualify adults aged 18 and older for a fourth dose at least five months after a third dose include:
- Transplant recipients, including solid organ transplants and hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
- Individuals with malignant hematologic disorders and non-hematologic malignant solid tumors prior to receiving or receiving active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy or having received previous COVID-19 vaccines while on active treatment), excluding individuals receiving solely hormonal therapy, radiation therapy or a surgical intervention.
- Individuals being treated with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody such as Rituximab.
- Individuals with chronic kidney disease on dialysis.
- Recipients of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy.
- Individuals with moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
- Individuals with Stage 3 or advanced HIV infection and those with acquired COVID-19 immunization.
- Individuals undergoing immunosuppressive therapies (e.g., anti-B cell therapies, high-dose systemic corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumornecrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents).
- Individuals on certain medications for autoimmune diseases, including rituximab, ocrelizumab and ofatumumab.
How to book:
Beginning Jan. 20, eligible individuals can book appointments for fourth doses online with AHS and participating pharmacies by using the Alberta vaccine booking system or by calling 811.
