Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Health Canada to add warning on AstraZeneca

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Mar, 2021 05:48 PM
  • Health Canada to add warning on AstraZeneca

Health Canada is in the process of adding a warning about a rare possible side-effect of blood clots from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine but is still certain the vaccine is safe and effective against COVID-19.

The department's chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma says the warning comes on the heels of a similar warning in Europe last week but doesn't change Health Canada's analysis that the vaccine's benefits outweigh its risks.

The European Medicines Agency last week amended its authorization of the vaccine to say there is not an overall increase in the risk of blood clots after getting the vaccine.

However the EMA and Health Canada are still analyzing data to see if there is a reason the vaccine may have caused a very small number of blood clots in the vein that drains blood from the brain.

Sharma says the warning in Canada would centre on what to look for, including intense or persistent headaches, shortness of breath and pain in the legs.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada's vaccination program is moving much faster than before but warns there has been a 15 per cent rise in the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the last week.

MORE National ARTICLES

Former PM Stephen Harper sees new Cold War

Former PM Stephen Harper sees new Cold War
While middle-power countries like Canada have a role to play in that war, Harper told a defence conference today that they can't try to set their own courses completely independent of the big two.

Former PM Stephen Harper sees new Cold War

Two B.C. officers face assault charges

Two B.C. officers face assault charges
The release says the vehicle was stopped and the driver arrested in Richmond with the help of another RCMP officer, but the man was allegedly assaulted during the arrest.

Two B.C. officers face assault charges

Horgan cool on vaccine passports within B.C.

Horgan cool on vaccine passports within B.C.
Horgan says B.C. will monitor the situation as the pandemic continues and the prospect of implementing something that gives proof of vaccine hasn't been completely ruled out.

Horgan cool on vaccine passports within B.C.

Ottawa funds development of B.C. geothermal field

Ottawa funds development of B.C. geothermal field
The money will be spent on the Clarke Lake field near the community of Fort Nelson, which is nearing depletion after nearly 60 years of production. That, combined with low natural gas prices, have reduced investment and employment from the resource.

Ottawa funds development of B.C. geothermal field

B.C. urged to protect at-risk old growth forests

B.C. urged to protect at-risk old growth forests
Just over 13 million hectares of old forests remain in B.C., according to provincial data. The report notes as much as 80 per cent of that land consists of smaller trees with lower commercial value.

B.C. urged to protect at-risk old growth forests

Jobless data shows strong B.C. economy: NDP

Jobless data shows strong B.C. economy: NDP
A statement from the Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ministry says employment has been created in B.C. in each of the last 10 months and the province has one of the strongest economies in Canada.

Jobless data shows strong B.C. economy: NDP