Omicron vaccine available in Quebec starting Thursday, not recommended for under 30

MONTREAL — Quebec’s public health director says the new COVID-19 vaccine that targets the Omicron variant will be available at vaccination centres starting Thursday at noon.

Dr. Luc Boileau made the announcement today during a news conference in Montreal.

Health Canada last week approved for people 18 and older an adapted version of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which targets both the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Omicron BA.1 variant.

Dr. Caroline Quach, who sits on Quebec’s vaccine committee, says Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines are not recommended for people under 30 because they present a higher risk of myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle — than the Pfizer shot.