The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends booster doses this fall before a potential future wave of COVID-19 in Canada.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) said provincial authorities should plan to provide boosters to people increasingly at risk of severe COVID illness regardless of the number of booster doses they have previously received.

It says this should include people aged 65 and over, residents in long-term care or living facilities, and individuals aged 12 and over with an underlying medical condition that puts them at risk of severe COVID-19.

The recommendation also includes adults in Indigenous, ethnic, and marginalized communities where infection can have severe consequences,  in addition to housing for migrant workers, shelters, correctional facilities, and group homes.

NACI also recommends providing boosters to all other individuals aged 12 to 64 years regardless of the number of booster doses they have previously received.

It says it will provide recommendations on the type of COVID-19 vaccine to be given for this booster dose as guidance depends on the availability of appropriate vaccines.

NACI said in a statement: "COVID-19 cases, including related hospitalizations and deaths, are currently declining in Canada.

However, the likelihood, timing, and severity of the future wave of COVID-19 remain uncertain."

Adding, "It is also possible that, consistent with other respiratory viruses, the occurrence of COVID-19 will increase in subsequent fall and winter seasons, posing a risk to individuals and communities and increasing pressure on health systems."