Close X
Thursday, January 16, 2025
ADVT 
National

Feds issue new COVID vaccine guidance, says provinces now responsible for buying them

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Jan, 2025 04:25 PM
  • Feds issue new COVID vaccine guidance, says provinces now responsible for buying them

Federal funding for COVID-19 vaccines will stop this year and the provinces and territories will be responsible for buying them, as well as determining the timing of the vaccinations, the Public Health Agency of Canada says.  

The agency published the information online on Friday, along with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's COVID-19 vaccine guidance for 2025 through to the summer of 2026. 

NACI recommended that seniors who are 80 years and older, residents of long-term care homes, and adults and children six months and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should get two doses of COVID-19 vaccine per year.

It also recommended that all adults 65 years and older, health-care workers and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness should get one shot a year if they've previously been vaccinated. 

People considered at higher risk include those with underlying medical conditions; pregnant women; people from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities; and members of racialized communities, NACI said.   

In all cases, the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine should be used, it said. 

Those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine can get their first two-dose series any time because the virus that causes the disease — SARS-CoV-2 — is around throughout the year, NACI said. 

"Unlike influenza, SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating year-round, without a clear pattern in disease activity," the advisory committee said. 

"However, since 2022, COVID-19 activity has consistently been higher from late summer to early January, coinciding with the fall/winter respiratory season."

If significant new strains are identified in 2025, health authorities may authorize updates to the COVID-19 vaccine to match, NACI said. 

The most recent mRNA vaccines, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, target the KP.2 Omicron subvariant. 

Novavax's updated protein-based vaccine targets the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron, but the federal government did not buy any doses, saying the minimum order required was much higher than the Canadian uptake of the Novavax vaccine the previous year.

MORE National ARTICLES

Federal government plans to give $250 cheques to millions of Canadians, cut GST

Federal government plans to give $250 cheques to millions of Canadians, cut GST
The GST break would begin Dec. 14 and end Feb. 15. The Liberals say it will apply to a number of items including children's clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals and beer and wine. It also applies to Christmas trees, a variety of snack foods and beverages, and video game consoles.

Federal government plans to give $250 cheques to millions of Canadians, cut GST

B.C. RCMP say multiple victims injured in single vehicle crash

B.C. RCMP say multiple victims injured in single vehicle crash
Mounties on Vancouver Island say they are investigating a single-vehicle crash that left "multiple" people injured.  Sidney North Saanich RCMP say officers were called to a shopping plaza in Sidney at about 2:30 p.m. 

B.C. RCMP say multiple victims injured in single vehicle crash

More medical, law enforcement testimony expected in human smuggling trial

More medical, law enforcement testimony expected in human smuggling trial
The prosecution is expecting to wrap up its case today in the trial of two men accused of human smuggling at the border between Manitoba and Minnesota. Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel have pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from several border crossings in 2021 and 2022.

More medical, law enforcement testimony expected in human smuggling trial

Surrey RCMP rolling out body cameras

Surrey RCMP rolling out body cameras
Surrey R-C-M-P says they will announce the rollout of body-worn cameras today.  The rollout will be the largest deployment in the province with more than three-thousand cameras expected. 

Surrey RCMP rolling out body cameras

Parole board 'working' to have Bernardo victims' families attend hearing in-person

Parole board 'working' to have Bernardo victims' families attend hearing in-person
A lawyer representing the families of two teenage girls murdered by notorious killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo said they had been denied the right to deliver their statements in person at Bernardo's upcoming parole hearing. The issue was raised by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre during question period in the House of Commons Wednesday.

Parole board 'working' to have Bernardo victims' families attend hearing in-person

B.C. Conservative leader names shadow cabinet, gives job to controversial member

B.C. Conservative leader names shadow cabinet, gives job to controversial member
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has assigned jobs to 41 of his 44-member caucus, including giving a critic's position to MLA Brent Chapman, who faced calls to step down during the campaign over controversial social media remarks. Several groups called on Rustad during last month's election to remove Chapman as his party's candidate over the posts, including one in which he called Palestinian children "inbred walking, talking, breathing time bombs."

B.C. Conservative leader names shadow cabinet, gives job to controversial member