COVID-19 in Canada: Dr. Tam 'cautiously optimistic' a vaccine could be available 'in the first quarter of 2021'; Ontario moves region to 'red zone'
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COVID-19 could be available to Canadians in early 2021
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, spoke about the possible roll out of a viable COVID-19 vaccine, stating that she is “cautiously optimistic” that one will be available “in the first quarter of 2021.”
“When vaccines become available, there will be a limited supply at first,” she explained. “While that supply will continue to increase over time, it does mean that federal, provincial and territorial governments will have to make important decisions on how to use the initial vaccine supply.”
On Tuesday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provided guidance on populations that should be prioritized for early COVID-19 immunizations, including people at high risk of severe outcomes or those at high risk of spreading to them, essential workers and people whose living or working conditions put them at elevated risk of infection, including Indigenous communities.
“While this preliminary guidance is helpful for planning, there is still a long road ahead,” Dr. Tam said. “Clinical trials need to continue, Health Canada still needs to approve the vaccines, if they are deemed safe and effective, and we will be receiving additional advice on prioritization, based on the characteristics of each vaccine, once approved.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also indicated that obtaining COVID-19 vaccines for Canadian is a “top priority” for the federal government. He added that distribution decisions will be “based on the recommendations of experts.”
“The decision on how to roll out vaccines will be discussed by the vaccine committee of experts but also, it will be a conversation with the provinces,” Trudeau said. “We know that some of the first vaccines to come out have extremely high degrees of logistical support necessary, things like freezers that can keep the vaccines down at -80 C, for example, which doesn’t lend itself to mass distribution in pharmacies across the country, for example.”
“But later vaccines that will be arriving will be able to do that. We have to have a very sophisticated plan to be able to roll out vaccines the right way, the right vaccines, in the right place, to the right people. There are many, may conversations to be had.”
Peel moves to red zone of restrictions after COVID-19 cases get ‘out of control’
The Ontario government announced Friday that the Peel region is moving into the red zone of restrictions.
“The numbers that we’re seeing in Peel and specifically Brampton, they’re just going through the roof,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday. “It’s out of control right now and we have react.”
This comes as the province reported 1,003 daily COVID-19 cases, including 300 new cases in Toronto, 280 in Peel and 125 in York Region.
As of Saturday, Nov. 7 at 12:01 a.m., public health unit regions will be in these levels, which will require them to follow the latest restrictions listed as part of the province’s new colour-scale format:
Red-Control:
Peel Regional Health Unit
Orange-Restrict:
Ottawa Public Health
York Region Public Health
Yellow-Protect:
Brant County Health Unit
City of Hamilton Public Health Services
Durham Region Health Department
Eastern Ontario Health Unit
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Halton Region Public Health
Niagara Region Public Health
Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
Green-Prevent:
Algoma Public Health
Chatham-Kent Public Health
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Huron Perth Public Health
Lambton Public Health
Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
Middlesex-London Health Unit
North Bay Parry Sound District
Northwestern Health Unit
Peterborough Public Health
Porcupine Health Unit
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Renfrew County and District Health Unit
Southwestern Public Health
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Timiskaming Health Unit
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
Toronto Public Health will remain in a modified Stage 2 until November 14, 2020.
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