In line with recommendations 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.
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.
Qualifying 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.
Youth ages 12 to 17 with the preceding conditions continue to be eligible for third doses. Fourth doses have not yet been approved for this age group.
Third doses have not been approved for youth under the age of 18.
Appointments for additional doses
Eligible Albertans can book appointments online for AHS or participating pharmacies by using the one-stop booking system at alberta.ca/vaccine. Albertans can also book an appointment by calling 811 or participating pharmacies.
For schedule and locations, visit ahs.ca/vaccine.
