National

Health Canada approves Pfizer COVID-19 boosters

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Nov, 2021 11:01 AM

OTTAWA - Health Canada has approved a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 18.

The booster is designed to help people with their first two COVID-19 vaccine doses maintain their protection against the virus over time.

The booster is identical to the regular Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and is to be administered at least six months after the first two vaccine doses.

Different provinces have employed different rollout strategies for booster doses, and mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech have already been used to offer longer-lasting protection to high-risk people in several parts of the country.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says there is no evidence of waning protection against over time against severe COVID-19 in the general vaccinated population.

However NACI has recommended boosters for several high risk groups, including those of advanced age and front-line workers in health care.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Climate pledges risk making Canada 'outlier': CAPP

Tim McMillan says that as Canada increases its environmental ambition at events such as this week's climate conference in Scotland, the federal government must work harder to bring the rest of the world along.

Climate pledges risk making Canada 'outlier': CAPP

B.C. woman who killed teen back on day parole

Kelly Ellard, now 39 years old and the mother of two children, has returned to day parole after the privilege was revoked in August for what a Parole Board of Canada decision says were indications of drug and alcohol use.

B.C. woman who killed teen back on day parole

Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90%

Currently most COVID-19 treatments require an IV or injection. Competitor Merck’s COVID-19 pill is already under review at the Food and Drug Administration after showing strong initial results, and on Thursday the United Kingdom became the first country to OK it.

Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90%

Economy created 31K jobs in October, StatCan says

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate would have been 8.7 per cent in October, down from 8.9 per cent in September, had it not included in calculations Canadians who wanted to work but didn't search for a job.

Economy created 31K jobs in October, StatCan says

COVID-19 cases declining across Canada

Tam welcomed the high level of vaccine coverage across Canada, and said some regions are seeing very low COVID-19 activity. But she warned regional differences in vaccine coverage could still create surges in months to come, even if the upswings could be less dramatic and wide-spread.

COVID-19 cases declining across Canada

Tam says border testing needs to be re-examined

Currently, anyone crossing into Canada needs to show a recent, molecular test that shows a negative result for COVID-19 in order to get into Canada. At a cost of $150 to $300 per test, that can be a pricey proposition, particularly for families