Here’s a question being heard frequently by the Porcupine Health Unit: Do you need a second or third shot of COVID-19 vaccine, if you’ve come through a bout with Omicron?
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lianne Catton says yes, because there is evidence of reinfection with the variant.
“The evidence really hasn’t demonstrated what the duration of that immunity may be from natural exposure,” she explains. “Nor is it really demonstrated from potentially previous variants.”
“We have heard form immunologists and other scientific partners that if you’ve had natural infection and you do get an mRNA vaccine or a booster vaccine, that it will significantly add to the level of protection.”
Catton adds that it also increases the length of time of that protection. That, she says, is very important.