Provinces continued to roll out their COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Sunday, as Canada’s chief public health officer notes a recent increase in the number of new cases across the country.
The Dre Theresa Tam mentioned that health officials are seeing an increase in new infections after several weeks of stabilization. The country reported a daily average of 3,052 new cases between March 5 and March 11.
In a statement, the Dre Tam expressed concern about the increase in cases linked to more contagious variants, as well as a higher rate of infection among Canadians aged 20 to 39.
Transmission of COVID-19 among younger, more mobile and more socially connected adults may increase the risk of spread to more vulnerable populations and in high-risk settings.
Dre Theresa Tam, in a press release
Despite the increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to decline, said Dre Tam.
In her statement, she emphasizes the importance of continuing vaccination efforts, which are intensifying in several provinces as new doses arrive.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dre Theresa Tam
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that the province’s COVID-19 vaccine reservation system is ready to begin scheduling appointments for those 80 and over starting Monday morning. This announcement follows recent pilot projects allowing some pharmacies and family physicians to deliver Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines to people aged 60 to 64.
Saskatchewan has also expanded the rollout of its vaccination campaign, announcing that all people aged 70 and over can book an appointment starting Monday.
Quebec, which already vaccinates people aged 70 and over across the province or 65 and over in Montreal, will expand its reservation system as of Monday to add some 350 pharmacies to the list of places where people can go. vaccinate.
Health Minister Christian Dubé revealed that the province administered more than 30,000 doses on Saturday and assured that Quebec would continue to increase the pace of vaccination.
Unlike many other provinces, Quebec has authorized the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65 years of age, despite the National Advisory Committee on Immunization advising against it due to a lack of efficacy data for it. this age group.
On Twitter, Mr. Dubé reassured the public about the safety of the vaccine, after several European countries temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca due to concerns about blood clots.
The vaccine is the solution, no matter which one.
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health, on Twitter
The World Health Organization and Health Canada’s chief medical adviser have argued that there is no scientific explanation suggesting a link between the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots.
AstraZeneca claims that a test carried out on 17 million patients who received the vaccine in Europe and the United Kingdom showed no high risk of blood clotting.
Alberta, meanwhile, is running out of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine it is offering to young people. Albertans born between 1957 and 1961, as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit people born between 1972 and 1976, are eligible for doses of AstraZeneca.
This province also recorded its first two cases of the Brazilian variant. Both are linked to travel, Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw said.
