Canadian COVID-19 News

[Mike OReilly]

News:
U.S.-Canada border will remain closed to non-essential travel until July 21; quarantine rules to be eased shortly

The Canada-United States border will remain closed to non-essential travel until July 21, federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced Friday.

This is a renewal of a monthly agreement with the United States that has been repeatedly extended since the pandemic hit in early 2020.

He also said Canada is still planning to soon significantly ease post-travel quarantine restrictions for fully-vaccinated Canadians, permanent residents and other eligible individuals – a loosening of rules that Ottawa has already said is planned for early July.

[Montanan]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated at a press conference on Friday that Canada is working on a proof of vaccination for Canadians who wish to travel, with the initial phase set to come into effect for summer travel.

Trudeau said that for the initial phase, the federal government is working with the ArriveCAN app to allow individuals to upload a picture of their proof of vaccination so border agent can confirm they are fully vaccinated.

"That is something that we will have in place in the coming weeks so that people can have a few more options, if they’re fully vaccinated, this summer," the prime minister said.

He added that for the fall, the federal government is working with provinces on a national certification of vaccine status that will be "easily accepted around the world."
"The provinces, of course, have your health data and your vaccination status, and we want to make sure we’re both protecting privacy and protecting jurisdictions,"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/canada-va...171618905.html

[davefromoregon]

How big of a trigger is the 75%/20% threshold? Ie 75% have one shot and 20% are fully vaccinated. Canada hit 75% this morning and are likely to hit 20% tomorrow.

[NaClyDog]

Every province is setting it's own reopening schedule so... it depends.

[davefromoregon]

Originally Posted by NaClyDog

Every province is setting it's own reopening schedule so... it depends.

Sigh. Any word out of what BC is doing? I’m really hoping to go there this summer.

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by davefromoregon

Sigh. Any word out of what BC is doing? I’m really hoping to go there this summer.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/c...9/info/restart

[desodave]

Originally Posted by davefromoregon

Sigh. Any word out of what BC is doing? I’m really hoping to go there this summer.

And case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths in BC have been dropping steadily so the re-opening plan is on course. But there will be no border opening before July 21.
https://www.newwestrecord.ca/coronav...o-1389-3889206

[Montanan]

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is now recommending that individuals who received a single dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine be given an mRNA vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, for their second dose.

National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is now recommending that individuals who received a single dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine be given an mRNA vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, for their second dose. "An mRNA vaccine is now preferred as the second dose for individuals who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine, based on emerging evidence of a potentially better immune response from this mixed vaccine schedule and to mitigate the potential risk of VITT [vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia] associated with viral vector vaccines," the recommendation from NACI reads.


Despite this guidance, the committee is also signalling that Canadians who have been fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca should "rest assured that the vaccine provides good protection against infection and very good protection against severe disease and hospitalization." "The emerging evidence suggesting better immune responses when a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine is followed by a second dose of the Pfzier-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines," Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer said at a press conference on Thursday. "NACI’s earlier recommendation that people who wanted earlier vaccination could receive a viral vector vaccine rather than wait for mRNA reflected supply of mRNA vaccines at the time."

[Montanan]

Canadians with AstraZeneca vaccine facing issues travelling to U.S.

COVID-19 protocol in the U.S. dictates that individuals will not be able to attend Springsteen on Broadway if vaccinated with a vaccine not authorized by the FDA, which includes AstraZeneca.

In what could be a harbinger for Broadway’s post-Covid protocol, Springsteen on Broadway has announced that audience members must be vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine, a policy no doubt disappointing to the many Canadians and Europeans who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Producers of Springsteen on Broadway announced Tuesday night that the show, which will begin performances on June 26 to become Broadway’s first post-shutdown arrival, will require the FDA-authorized vaccines. To date, the FDA has authorized vaccines by Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/springste...145101045.html

Born in the USA. Y'all know the lyrics.

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Canadians with AstraZeneca vaccine facing issues travelling to U.S.

COVID-19 protocol in the U.S. dictates that individuals will not be able to attend Springsteen on Broadway if vaccinated with a vaccine not authorized by the FDA, which includes AstraZeneca.

In what could be a harbinger for Broadway’s post-Covid protocol, Springsteen on Broadway has announced that audience members must be vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine, a policy no doubt disappointing to the many Canadians and Europeans who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Producers of Springsteen on Broadway announced Tuesday night that the show, which will begin performances on June 26 to become Broadway’s first post-shutdown arrival, will require the FDA-authorized vaccines. To date, the FDA has authorized vaccines by Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/springste...145101045.html

Born in the USA. Y'all know the lyrics.

You're behind the times

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainmen...neca-1.6072682

Springsteen on Broadway theatre backtracks on refusing entry to AstraZeneca recipients

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is now recommending that individuals who received a single dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine be given an mRNA vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, for their second dose.

National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is now recommending that individuals who received a single dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine be given an mRNA vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, for their second dose. "An mRNA vaccine is now preferred as the second dose for individuals who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine, based on emerging evidence of a potentially better immune response from this mixed vaccine schedule and to mitigate the potential risk of VITT [vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia] associated with viral vector vaccines," the recommendation from NACI reads.


Despite this guidance, the committee is also signalling that Canadians who have been fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca should "rest assured that the vaccine provides good protection against infection and very good protection against severe disease and hospitalization." "The emerging evidence suggesting better immune responses when a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine is followed by a second dose of the Pfzier-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines," Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer said at a press conference on Thursday. "NACI’s earlier recommendation that people who wanted earlier vaccination could receive a viral vector vaccine rather than wait for mRNA reflected supply of mRNA vaccines at the time."

NACI really needs to hire a PR firm to manage their messaging as they change their mind on their recommendations (and creates conflicting messageing) more often than a person changes their underwear!

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by pcmm

NACI really needs to hire a PR firm to manage their messaging as they change their mind on their recommendations (and creates conflicting messageing) more often than a person changes their underwear!

Someone post upthread about the unexpected way that NACi became a public agency. They really weren't prepared for it. But typical gov't agency they must of said, "We're smart...how hard will it be to communicate with the peoples?"

This Covid "event" is going to shape how communications is taught and studied for a long time to come. It's all my colleagues ever talk about when those brief moments occur that we get together in a non work moment. And there are going to be tons of theses and dissertations written on the communication disaster that has been the last 18 months. So that's a positive right?

[desodave]

And Bc's Dr Henry quickly asserted that BC residents could continue to get the 2nd shot of their vaccine of choice after the NACI communique. In fact BC Premier Horgan just got his 2nd shot of AZ in line with Henry's reccomendation.
There was also a recent CBC story about Canadians living overseas getting the only vaccine available in that country (the Russian or Chinese) but, since it was approved by the WHO but not in Canada, meant they didn't qualify as vaccinated Canadians. Methinks there will continue to be a lot of turmoil related to vaccination proof, especially between countries. And with various jurisdictions refusing or outlawing any form of vaccine passport, it will only get more complicated for travelers, or event attendees.

[Mike OReilly]

CBC: Canada hits COVID-19 vaccination targets previously outlined for looser restrictions

Canada has hit two of the vaccination targets government officials have previously said were necessary for the easing of public health restrictions imposed due to COVID-19.

According to CBC's vaccine tracker, just over 20 per cent of eligible Canadians — those 12 years of age and older — are now fully vaccinated. And just over 75 per cent of eligible Canadians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

[Mike OReilly]

Interesting discussion/story in the Globe around workplaces mandating Covid-19 vaccinations:

Can your workplace mandate COVID-19 vaccinations?

Employment lawyers warn that not all workplaces are on the same legal footing, and say most employers would be better off creating non-punitive alternatives to mandatory policies, or incentivizing employees to get their shots.

“I think there will be workplaces that will be able to justify [a mandatory vaccination policy] if it’s challenged, but for all employers to assume they can do it I think is a mistake,” said Dan Bokenfohr, a partner in the labour and employment practice group for McLennan Ross LLP. “Because it really is going to be industry-dependent, context-dependent, these assessments will be made on an employer-by-employer basis.”