Third COVID-19 vaccine dose now available to higher-risk populations

OTTAWA – A third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to residents most at risk of serious illness.

Eligible residents including individuals who are severely immunocompromised, notably:

• Transplant recipients (including solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants)
• Patients with hematological cancers (examples include lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia) on active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy)
• Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (examples include rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab)

“Ottawa residents who meet these criteria can speak to their specialist or hospital program to ask for a letter to receive a third dose,” Ottawa Public Health (OPH) staff released in a statement today (Aug. 25). “The third dose of vaccine will be given at least two months after the second dose and will match the vaccine received as the second dose.” 

Drop-in vaccinations are available to those eligible for a third dose at any community clinic, pop-up clinic, or neighbourhood vaccination hub in Ottawa during hours of operation. Eligible residents must present a letter from their specialist or hospital program to receive a third dose.

“Residents of long-term care homes and highest risk retirement homes will also be offered a third dose of vaccination at an interval of at least five months after the second dose,” the OPH said. “OPH is working with long-term care homes and highest risk retirement homes directly to offer a third dose to residents in those settings.”

For more information on Ottawa Public Health programs and services, visit ottawapublichealth.ca.