Ottawa says COVID vaccine distribution ramping up

The federal government says COVID-19 vaccine distribution will steadily increase in the coming weeks as Canada hits an important milestone.

Deputy chief public health officer, Dr. Howard Njoo, says the country has surpassed the 10 per cent mark of residents over 18 who have received at least one shot.

More than 11 per cent of the country's adult population is now at least partially protected from the virus.

But Njoo warns that's not enough to stop the spread, as more transmissible variants continue to pose a "significant threat" until more people are vaccinated.

Officials say a total of six million doses have been delivered to the provinces so far.

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the military commander in charge of Canada's COVID-19 vaccine distribution, says two million doses are set to be delivered next week — for a total of eight million by the end of March.