COVID-19 update March 2022
Dear Patients,
This month we mark two years of pandemic survival. Some of us are lucky enough to have been spared serious personal illness or loss, but others are not so fortunate. While we move forward with a new approach, we want to honour those who have died from all causes in the past two years and the losses that we have experienced. May the memory of our loved ones be a blessing.
Update on Masks
The Government of Ontario announced that mask mandates would be lifted starting March 21. However, they are still required in healthcare facilities so please continue to wear yours when you are in the clinic. Our personnel and physicians will continue to wear masks to protect themselves, their family members, and you.
Vaccination
Some patients are questioning the importance of boosters. All the physicians of the CRFHT highly recommend a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. There is an important reduction in the risk of hospitalization and death for those who have a third dose, and the risk of transmission is cut in half. As a practical benefit household members 18 years or older who have received the booster no longer need to isolate if their sick household member is isolating, though it will be important to wear a mask in public for 10 days after the last contact with the sick person. The same will be true for children who are fully (double) vaccinated
Note that patients who are immunocompromised or reside in congregate living centres (e.g., retirement homes or long-term care) will need a fourth dose three months after their third.
Treatment Options
Those who are immunocompromised should seek out additional antiviral or antibody treatments as soon as symptoms appear regardless of vaccination status because they remain at higher risk of complications from COVID. These treatments must be administered within 5-7 days of symptom onset to be effective.
If you are not vaccinated, have not received your third shot or you have other risk factors, you should also seek treatment. Those who are at higher risk have a greater than 5% chance of hospitalization if they get COVID.
Please look at the following table, and if you believe you are at higher risk, you can self-refer to a Clinical Assessment Centre (Ottawa Hospital 613-798-5555 ext 19507) to receive treatment. We cannot prescribe or administer these treatments in Rockland.
If you feel you need an assessment but do not need treatment (e.g., you are not at higher risk or it has been greater than 7 days since the start of your symptoms), or if you are unsure, we continue to offer evening appointments.
Age (years) |
Number of Vaccine Doses |
Risk Factors |
||
0 doses |
1-2 doses |
3 doses |
- Obesity - Diabetes - Heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure - Chronic respiratory disease (including cystic fibrosis) - Cerebral Palsy - Intellectual disability - Sickle cell disease - Renal disease, moderate to severe (eGFR <60) - Liver disease, moderate to severe (Child Pugh class B or C, or cirrhosis) |
|
<20 |
Higher risk if >3 factors |
Normal risk |
Normal risk |
|
20-39 |
Higher risk if >3 factors |
Higher risk if >3 factors |
Normal risk |
|
40-69 |
Higher risk if >1 factor |
Higher risk if >3 factors |
Normal risk |
|
>70 |
Higher risk |
Higher risk if >1 factor |
Higher risk if >3 factors |
|
Immunocompromised people of any age |
Higher risk |
Higher risk |
Higher risk |
|
Pregnancy |
Higher risk |
Normal risk |
Normal risk |
Resources
If you suspect you have COVID or have been exposed to someone with COVID, here is a self-assessment which will help you decide what you should do:
covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment
Sincerely,
CRFHT Physicians