Nova Scotia drops eligibility age for COVID-19 booster to 18

Nova Scotia opened eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to those 18 and up on Monday.

Anyone over 18 can now get a booster shot if they were fully vaccinated on or before Aug. 2, with either two doses of an approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine.

Immunocompromised people 18 and older are now also qualified for an additional booster shot, as recommended by The National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

The province recommends booking appointments in advance. Online booking is open as well as the phone line at 1-833-797-7772, though the province warns to expect long wait times. 

People may also attend one of the many drop-in clinics operating in all zones in Nova Scotia.

Those who do not have a Nova Scotia health card are being asked to book by phone only. Those who have an expired Nova Scotia health card are asked to fill out a renewal form.

Nova Scotia is the last Atlantic province to open booster eligibility for this younger portion of the population. 

In December, Premier Tim Houston announced vaccine efforts would focus on the more vulnerable, older population, saying he wanted to avoid a “Hunger Games type scenario” among those in the lower age bracket.