The scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 science advisory table says there is still much work to be done to make sure eligible Ontarians get a third COVID vaccine shot, as demand ramps up to expand eligibility for fourth doses.

Dr. Fahad Razak says a lot of the conversation right now is around 4th shots, but he feels more 3rd shot doses still need to be given.

“That is the dose that clearly gives you increased protection against not only infection, but against severe disease and severe disease is the thing we care about the most. So, there is a large number of people in Ontario right now who are eligible for that third dose who haven’t received it. And I should say also, there’s a large number of people under the age of 18 who haven’t even received their second dose,” Dr. Razak explained to CP24.

Third doses are currently recommended in Ontario for all those 12 and over with fourth doses offered to people 60 and over, as well as those 18 and over who are immuno-compromised or are First Nation, Inuit or Metis.

According to the latest vaccination data released by the province, just 57 percent of those 12 and over have received a third dose, despite widespread availability in the province.