Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ontario waits for guidance as B.C. delays 2nd dose

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Mar, 2021 08:38 PM
  • Ontario waits for guidance as B.C. delays 2nd dose

Ontario is waiting for a recommendation from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization before delaying second doses of COVID-19 vaccine, while British Columbia is pushing ahead with its plan to extend the interval to four months.

B.C.'s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday the decision was based on local and international evidence that shows the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines provides "miraculous" 90 per cent protection from the virus.

Henry said she was expecting a statement from the national advisory committee that would align with the province's decision, while Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said Tuesday she wanted to wait for such a recommendation.

Dr. Shelley Deeks, vice-chair of the national committee, said in an email the group expected to issue a statement on extending the dose interval on Wednesday, but she did not confirm it would align with B.C.'s plan.

Alberto Martin, a University of Toronto immunology professor, says a published clinical trial showed the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provided 60 per cent protection, but B.C. may have access to new or unpublished data.

He says there is "obviously some concern" about B.C.'s plan because he is not aware of any clinical trial that examined a four-month gap between doses, but difficult times — when the vaccine supply is so limited — require drastic measures.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

$7-million judgment against man who beat B.C. teen

$7-million judgment against man who beat B.C. teen
In June 2016, Simpson was 18 years old and celebrating his high school graduation when he entered Teichrieb's yard in Kamloops, B.C.

$7-million judgment against man who beat B.C. teen

Top doctors warn of third wave driven by variants

Top doctors warn of third wave driven by variants
Trudeau's updated delivery schedule from Pfizer also includes 10.8 million doses to be delivered between April and June, and all remaining doses – 40 million in total – arriving by the end of September.

Top doctors warn of third wave driven by variants

New border measures to begin Feb. 22

New border measures to begin Feb. 22
That requirement is also set to be applied at the land border as of Monday. Beginning Feb. 22, those arriving via the land border must also take another COVID-19 test at the end of their quarantine.

New border measures to begin Feb. 22

Man dead in fatal shooting in Burnaby, B.C.

Man dead in fatal shooting in Burnaby, B.C.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says in a social media post that a man was fatally shot just after 10 p.m. Thursday.

Man dead in fatal shooting in Burnaby, B.C.

Snowbirds navigate Canada's travel rules

Snowbirds navigate Canada's travel rules
There is no ban on travel and snowbirds don't think of themselves as vacationers, said Crooks, a professor at Simon Fraser University who's done research for years with snowbird communities in Florida and Arizona.

Snowbirds navigate Canada's travel rules

9 COVID19 deaths for Thursday

9 COVID19 deaths for Thursday
“Today, we are reporting 449 new cases, including three epi-linked cases, for a total of 72,305 cases in British Columbia. “There are 4,317 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 224 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 63 of whom are in intensive care

9 COVID19 deaths for Thursday