Data from the World Health Organization indicates the Omicron BA.5 variant is now responsible for the majority of COVID-19 cases around the world, with global infections on the rise again and spreading through Canada.
With some provinces reporting they have already entered a seventh wave, many Canadians are wondering when they can get their next booster shot.
Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) issued interim guidance at the end of June, saying "a fall booster dose in advance of a potential future wave of COVID-19 will be most important for older adults and other populations at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, regardless of the number of booster doses previously received."
While doctors are strongly recommending additional doses as protection wanes, there is debate among experts on the timing and whether to wait for newer versions of the vaccine that may be more effective against Omicron and its subvariants.
CTVNews.ca takes a look at who is currently eligible for a second booster shot or fourth dose by province and territory.
The province says invitations for the next booster are being sent to seniors aged 70 years and older, Indigenous people aged 55 years and older, and those who have underlying medical conditions or are clinically extremely vulnerable. Individuals in long-term care and assisted living have already been offered their next dose.
The province plans to offer a fall booster dose to everyone 12 and older, citing recommendations from NACI, and says it will send out personalized booking invitations this fall.
Appointments can be made through local pharmacies and health authority clinics.
The province's call centre at 1-833-838-2323 is available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time for those who may need help booking an appointment.
Phone agents cannot respond to questions asking for advice around the best timing for your next dose, the website says.
B.C. residents can register via this site to stay informed on when it will be their turn to book an appointment.
As of July 20, all adults in Alberta can receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Albertans can register and book an appointment online or call Health Link at 811 if at least five months have passed since their third dose.
The province recommends those who have had COVID-19 to wait at least three months before getting their booster.
Residents 50 years and older can receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine four months after their last dose.
For those who are over the ages of 50 and immunocompromised, a second booster is available three months after receiving the first booster dose.
For eligible First Nations and Metis communities and the Northern Service Administration District, appointments can be made through 1-833-SASKVAX (727-5829) only.
Residents can book through participating pharmacies, pop-up clinics in targeted communities, and those without access to a nearby pharmacy can book through the province's online booking system.
Residents aged 50 and older, Indigenous people aged 30 and above, those who live in a care home in congregate settings, and Manitobans aged 18 and older with moderate to severe immunocompromised health currently qualify for a fourth dose.
Booking can be made online or by calling 1-844-MAN-VACC (626-8222) Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time to make an appointment.
Ontario expanded eligibility for fourth doses to all adults 18 and older on July 14, as long as they received their first booster at least five months ago.
While the province has opened up the availability to adults, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said the second booster is "not absolutely necessary" if individuals have no underlying medical issues or face personal circumstances that would benefit from additional protection.
Healthy adults may want to wait until the fall when a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may be available, he said. A bivalent vaccine is one that works against two different antigens, in this case a COVID-19 vaccine that is also tailored against the Omicron variant.
Residents can book appointments online or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Ontarians can also book directly through local public health units that have their own booking systems, at participating pharmacies or through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics.
Everyone aged 18 and older can now get a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine in Quebec if at least three months have passed since their first booster, the province says.
For those aged 12 and up who are on dialysis or whose immune systems are compromised, a second booster can be administered if at least three months have passed since receiving their initial booster shot.
Residents can book online for an appointment, go to a walk-in clinic, or call 1-877-644-4545.
The province expanded eligibility for fourth doses beginning July 12 to anyone 18 and older, if at least five months have lapsed since their first booster.
Indigenous people aged 12 and up can also get their second booster if at least five months have passed since getting their first.
Residents can book a vaccine appointment online with a pharmacy or clinic, by calling 1-833-437-1424, or emailing vbn@gnb.ca.
Residents between 50 and 69 years of age can get a second booster 168 days, or about five and a half months, after the first booster shot. However, the province's public health recommends waiting until the fall.
Those who are aged 70 and older can get a fourth shot 120 days, or four months, after getting their third dose.
Those who are 18 and older living in long-term care or congregate settings with seniors, Indigenous people who are at least 55 years old, and immune compromised individuals between 50 and 69 can also get a second booster if it has been at least 120 days since their first booster.
Residents can book their appointments online, go to a community drop-in clinic or pharmacy, or call 1-833-797-7772.
Prince Edward Island is offering fourth shots to everyone who is 12 and over and who received their first booster at least six months prior.
The province "especially" recommends older adults and those with compromised immune systems to get a second booster.
Residents can book online through the province's online booking tool, with participating local pharmacies, or by calling 1-844-975-3303.
Starting July 20, those who are aged 50 and older can receive a fourth dose.
Those who have compromised immune systems, live in a group setting such as long-term and community care homes, and Indigenous people aged 18 years and older are also eligible.
At least 20 weeks must have passed since receiving your first booster shot.
Appointments can be made online or by phone depending on the health region.
On the recommendation of Yukon's chief medical officer of health, the territory expanded its eligibility for second boosters on July 13 to all those who are aged 18 or older.
To be eligible, residents must have received their first booster at least six months ago, or have tested positive for COVID-19 at least three months ago.
For more information, visit Yukon's This Is Our Shot. To book appointments, visit the booking site or call 1-877-374-0425.
Everyone who is 50 or older who had their first booster shot six months ago can now get their second booster shot.
Those who are at least 12 years old with serious underlying health issues can also get a second booster.
Those living in Yellowknife can make an appointment on the online booking site. Booking outside Yellowknife requires a call to a local health centre.
Currently, anyone 18 and older in Nunavut can receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Those wanting to get a second booster are asked to wait at least 4.5 months after receiving their last dose.
Questions about vaccines can be made by calling the territory's COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-975-8601.
With files from CTVNews.ca Writer Michael Lee
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play.
What do you need to pack for a cruise? When it comes to this upcoming cruise from tour and travel company Bare Necessities, the answer appears to be very little.
Danny DeVito had the opportunity to know way more about Drew Barrymore than the rest of us.
A pro-Palestinian activist group says its international co-ordinator, who was arrested in a Vancouver hate-crime investigation, was released with an order not to attend any protests for the next five months.
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
The province of New Brunswick will attempt to dissolve an education council over litigation fees.
One person is in custody after two people were found dead in a home in St. Catharines.
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
London Drugs stores in Western Canada remained closed Thursday due to a "cybersecurity incident," marking the fifth straight day of closures.
A police officer who was involved in clearing protesters from a Columbia University administration building earlier this week fired his gun inside the hall, a spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office confirmed Thursday.
A prominent surgeon in Gaza has died in an Israeli prison after being held for more than four months, according to Palestinian prisoners’ groups, which decried his death as part of a “systematic targeting” of health care workers.
Since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, attacks and harassment of Russians -- prominent or not -- have been blamed on Moscow's intelligence operatives across Europe and elsewhere.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was turned away from a polling station after forgetting to bring ID to vote in the U.K.'s local elections.
Two Nigerian military personnel will face a court martial over the killing of 85 villagers in a military drone attack in December in the West African nation's conflict-battered north, authorities said, prompting calls from a rights group Friday for more transparency and justice for victims.
The parliament of Georgia cancelled its Thursday plenary session following massive protests against a proposed law that critics fear will stifle media freedom and endanger the country's bid for membership in the European Union.
A federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference is slated to release a report today on alleged meddling in the last two general elections.
A Conservative MP is challenging claims by House of Commons administration that a China-backed hacking attempt did not impact any members of Parliament, because the attack was on his personal email.
The mayor of North Grenville, just south of Ottawa, says hybrid work has been a boon to her community, and a recent move by the federal government to force public servants back to downtown Ottawa office buildings is misguided.
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
H5N1 or avian flu has been detected at dozens of U.S. dairy farms and Canadian experts are urging surveillance on our side of the border too.
Halle Berry is joining a group of bipartisan senators to push for legislation that would put US$275 million toward research and education around menopause, the significant hormone shift women go through in middle age.
Many species of animals form social groups and behave collectively: An elephant herd follows its matriarch, flocking birds fly in unison, humans gather at concert events. Even humble fruit flies organize themselves into regularly spaced clusters, researchers have found.
China on Friday launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Scientists studying a Neanderthal woman's remains have painstakingly pieced together her skull from 200 bone fragments to understand what she may have looked like.
Danny DeVito had the opportunity to know way more about Drew Barrymore than the rest of us.
The start of the first civil trial stemming from the 2021 Astroworld festival, at which 10 people were killed in a crowd surge, has been delayed.
By its nature, it's nearly anonymous work, with stunt performers doubling for daintier stars. But Leitch, a longtime stuntman before he became a director, and "The Fall Guy," which opens in theatres Friday, hope to redefine the role of stunt work in Hollywood.
Ontario is set to clamp down on bad employers with big fines. Labour Minister David Piccini says his government will introduce legislation next week that will see fines increased for violations of the Employment Standards Act.
Co-operatives are found in many forms, from agricultural co-ops to grocery stores, gas stations and car-shares. Their exact business models vary, but what they have in common is that they are owned by their members, who have a share in the organization and a say in how it runs.
A Freedom Mobile customer who sued the company for negligence after a "SIM swap" scam cost him more than $63,000 in bitcoin will have to go through the company's arbitration process to pursue his claim, a B.C. court has ruled.
A Montreal astrologer and horoscope writer just got a boost on his retirement budget, after winning Loto-Quebec’s Grande-Vie prize, which comes in the form of $1,000 a day for life.
What do you need to pack for a cruise? When it comes to this upcoming cruise from tour and travel company Bare Necessities, the answer appears to be very little.
Nathaly Paola Castro Torres has a rare disorder called Laron syndrome that is caused by a genetic mutation. It stunts her growth but also provides a hidden silver lining: Her body is protected from chronic diseases such as cancer that often take life away long before old age.
William Nylander scored twice and Joseph Woll made 22 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday to force Game 7 in their first-round series.
Canada's para hockey team gets another swing at winning a world championship on home ice. The 2024 edition at Calgary's WinSport Arena, where the Canadians open against Japan on Saturday, provides more familiar territory.
Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play.
Drivers in Saskatchewan will now lose their licence for a week and their vehicle for a month if they are caught committing certain high-speed and dangerous offences on the road.
Auto sales last month totalled 164,000 units, higher than April 2023, which was the weakest month for sales last year.
Rolls-Royce is vastly expanding its factory in Chichester, England. The BMW subsidiary is adding five new buildings with construction planned to start next year.
A British Columbia mayor has been censured by city council – stripping him of his travel and lobbying budgets and removing him from city committees – for allegedly distributing a book that questions the history of Indigenous residential schools in Canada.
Three men in Quebec from the same family have fathered more than 600 children.
A group of SaskPower workers recently received special recognition at the legislature – for their efforts in repairing one of Saskatchewan's largest power plants after it was knocked offline for months following a serious flood last summer.
A police officer on Montreal's South Shore anonymously donated a kidney that wound up drastically changing the life of a schoolteacher living on dialysis.
Since 1932, Montreal's Henri Henri has been filled to the brim with every possible kind of hat, from newsboy caps to feathered fedoras.
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
Lawyers for the Surrey Police Union say officers were subjected to harassment and disrespect by members of the Surrey RCMP, only to be left in a “jurisdictional void” when both federal and British Columbia bodies declined to investigate their allegations.
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
The brains of older adults feel a sense of reward when listening to music, even if it's a song they don't particularly like, a researcher at British Columbia's Simon Fraser University says.
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ontario is set to clamp down on bad employers with big fines. Labour Minister David Piccini says his government will introduce legislation next week that will see fines increased for violations of the Employment Standards Act.
With the sheer number of passwords needed today, it may come as no surprise that over 60 per cent of Canadians feel overwhelmed, and over a third reportedly forget their passwords monthly.
Police are looking for a man who set a nativity scene on fire at a church in northeast Calgary.
As wedding dress styles change through the decades, one Calgary shop has remained a constant option for local brides for more than half a century.
Ottawa released its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report on Thursday, less than a day after a major carbon capture and storage project was scrapped by Edmonton-based Capital Power.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa during the first weekend of May.
The mayor of North Grenville, just south of Ottawa, says hybrid work has been a boon to her community, and a recent move by the federal government to force public servants back to downtown Ottawa office buildings is misguided.
Correctional service Canada (CSC) says unauthorized items valued at $131,415 have been seized at Joyceville Institution in Kingston, Ont.
A Quebec judge overseeing the trial of a person accused of killing a cyclist with their car has raised concerns that an amendment to the province's language charter could cause 'undue delays' for trials held in English.
Eight years ago, Lauren McGowan found out she had Celiac disease. As a baker, the Montrealer says the diagnosis didn't just change her life personally -- but also professionally.
The tenants of two downtown Montreal apartment buildings say their new landlord is trying to force them out.
The Alberta government, in the face of mounting criticism, says it will make changes to a bill that gives Premier Danielle Smith and her cabinet unfettered power to overturn local bylaws and fire mayors and councillors.
A campaign that started online has many Canadian shoppers promising to boycott Loblaw companies in May, but a local expert says the boycott is unlikely to take off.
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
Airport officials disagree with idea of one centralized airport in New Brunswick.
The Nova Scotia RCMP is investigating a “suspicious incident” involving men allegedly approaching children in St. Croix on Tuesday.
Two more women have filed lawsuits alleging they were sexually assaulted by an on-duty member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary who offered them rides home from a night of drinking in downtown St. John's.
The long-standing Starbucks in Osborne Village is set to close its doors next week – it comes one day after a man was attacked next door.
Manitobans are being invited to weigh in on a hospitality regulation designed to prevent sexual exploitation in the industry.
The Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFPS) is searching for a teenage girl who has been missing since February.
A serious collision at the intersection of Highway #1 and Highway #606 near Sintaluta, Sask. has reduced traffic to one lane.
Three months since the Government of Saskatchewan stopped funding single use pipes and needles for safe consumption sites – those working on the ground with people battling addiction say the effects are clear.
Passenger volumes have returned to near pre-pandemic levels at Regina’s International Airport (YQR).
A New Hamburg family is feeling deflated after buying a new Toyota hybrid truck.
Waterloo regional police are looking for a driver involved in a crash that left a pedestrian with serious injuries.
Around 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, first responders were called to the scene near the intersection of Pigram Road and Salford Road in South-West Oxford Township.
If April showers bring May flowers, then what does snow in May bring?
Saskatoon police are investigating an assault on a city bus after an 18-year-old man was stabbed on Wednesday afternoon.
A Saskatchewan family won the bovine lottery after their cow gave birth to a rare set of quadruplets.
A New Hamburg family is feeling deflated after buying a new Toyota hybrid truck.
An intoxicated man wearing only his underwear and a lifejacket had to be pulled from the Thessalon River early Wednesday evening.
Social services agencies across the north are sounding the alarm after funding cuts on homelessness programs were recently published.
Around 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, first responders were called to the scene near the intersection of Pigram Road and Salford Road in South-West Oxford Township.
Despite a recent clean-up around the former St. Pierre Renovation Centre, concern persists about trespassing and the risk of fire at the former industrial building.
A two-vehicle crash involving a transport truck and a passenger vehicle closed Dundas Street, just west of Thamesford, late Thursday afternoon.
Barrie's Tiffin Street will be closed to allow for paving.
For the second time this week, Nottawasaga Ontario Provincial Police have dealt with a dangerous person roaming their streets.
Barrie's photo radar cameras will relocate to new community safety zones this month to curb speeding on neighbourhood roads.
A Windsor man is facing charges after police seized drugs and cash worth over $18,000. In April, members of the Drugs and Guns Enforcement Unit (DIGS) started an investigation into a person they believed was trafficking drugs.
Jim Crichton is no stranger to the spotlight – having spent two decades at the anchor desk of CTV Windsor’s newscast. He’s also no stranger to the annual gala held by the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex, often serving as emcee for the evening.
A truck driver has been convicted of importing $29 million in methamphetamine across the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
The brains of older adults feel a sense of reward when listening to music, even if it's a song they don't particularly like, a researcher at British Columbia's Simon Fraser University says.
The Ehattesaht First Nation is urging boaters to steer clear of a young orca calf that recently escaped a B.C. lagoon where she had been stranded for weeks after her pregnant mother died.
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
An emaciated dachshund is now recovering thanks to a Good Samaritan who found the pup near a biking trail in Kelowna, according to the BC SPCA.
Search and rescue crews have been called in after a vehicle belonging to a missing senior was located near a rural intersection outside of Kelowna Tuesday.
The bell at Erle Rivers High School in Milk River, Alta., will ring for the last time on June 26, as the 114-year-old school is scheduled to be torn down to make way for a new K-12 school.
Years of hard work paid off for Tanner McLachlan after he heard his name called at the NFL draft last Saturday.
Volunteers with ‘The Watch’ program in Lethbridge have been patrolling the city centre rain or shine for five years.
Phase 1 of the reconstruction of Queen Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie is getting underway, although it will be scaled down from the original plan.
Social services agencies across the north are sounding the alarm after funding cuts on homelessness programs were recently published.
An intoxicated man wearing only his underwear and a lifejacket had to be pulled from the Thessalon River early Wednesday evening.
Richard Martin is spending this year's fishing season on land after he says a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer broke his left leg in three places during a protest last month that shut down the provincial legislature.
Tributes continue to pour in for Bob Cole as his family has confirmed a funeral will be held for the legendary broadcaster Friday in St. John's, N.L.
Legendary sportscaster Bob Cole was a Newfoundlander through and through, and his daughter says his connection to the province was 'everything' to him.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
