Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on March 6, 2021

OTTAWA, ON, March 6, 2021 /CNW/ –

As of March 5^th, over 2.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered throughout Canada. Federal, provincial and territorial authorities are working carefully collectively to watch vaccine safety following immunization with COVID-19 vaccines. So far, no unexpected vaccine safety issues have been identified. All antagonistic occasions are topic to assessment. All critical occasions endure an in depth investigation to find out whether or not or not they’re associated to using the vaccine. Info that signifies a possible hyperlink between using a vaccine and a beforehand unknown well being occasion, or a well being occasion with incomplete data, is taken into account a security sign, which warrants applicable motion from the regulator. Based mostly on information as much as February twenty sixth, there have been 1,591 reports of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with COVID-19 vaccines; these embrace any medical occasion that happens following immunization, however shouldn’t be essentially associated to the vaccine or the immunization course of. A complete of 194 AEFI experiences to this point – about 1 in 9,200 doses administered – had been thought of critical, similar to a extreme allergic response.

As COVID-19 exercise continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to watch the place the illness is most energetic, the place it’s spreading and the way it’s impacting the well being of Canadians and public well being, laboratory and healthcare capability. On the similar time, the Public Well being Company of Canada is offering Canadians with common updates on COVID-19 vaccines administered, vaccination coverage and ongoing monitoring of vaccine safety throughout the nation. The next is the most recent abstract on nationwide numbers and traits, and the actions all of us should be taking to scale back an infection charges, whereas vaccination packages broaden for the safety of all Canadians.

For the reason that begin of the pandemic, there have been 881,761 circumstances of COVID-19, together with 22,192 deaths reported in Canada; these cumulative numbers inform us concerning the total burden of COVID-19 sickness to this point. In addition they inform us, along with outcomes of serological research, that the vast majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19. As vaccination packages proceed to broaden throughout Canada, there may be rising optimism that widespread and lasting immunity will be achieved by means of COVID-19 vaccination. Latest knowledgeable evaluation of the efficacy and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada helps that precedence vaccination packages are offering sturdy advantages for these at highest threat of extreme outcomes or publicity. These encouraging findings have created alternatives for the secure and efficient adjustment of vaccination packages to protect the entire adult population within a short timeframe, while contributing to health equity.

At the moment, there are 30,146 energetic circumstances throughout the nation. Though COVID-19 exercise had been declining nationally from mid-January by means of mid-February, day by day case counts have since levelled off. The newest national-level information present a 7-day common of two,866 new circumstances day by day (Feb 26-Mar 4). Nationally, extreme outcomes proceed to say no; nevertheless, the place an infection charges have levelled off or elevated, some will increase are being seen. Provincial and territorial information point out that a mean of two,125 individuals with COVID-19 had been being handled in Canadian hospitals every day throughout the latest 7-day interval (Feb 26-Mar 4), together with 559 of whom had been being handled in intensive care models. Throughout the identical interval, there have been a mean of 41 COVID-19-related deaths reported day by day.

The emergence and unfold of sure SARS-CoV-2 virus variants is a unbroken concern. For the week of February 21-27, there have been on common of 103,189 checks accomplished day by day throughout Canada, of which 3.0% had been optimistic for COVID-19. Over the previous month, genomic sequencing capability has quickly elevated throughout Canada, with 10,568 top quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes from 11% of circumstances sequenced throughout that point interval. As of March 4^th, a complete of 1,649 variants of concern have been reported across Canada, together with 1,532 B.1.1.7 variants, 114 B.1.351 variants and three P.1 variants. 

Till vaccine entry totally expands and enough ranges of inhabitants immunity are achieved, and with the continued improve of circumstances and outbreaks related to extra contagious variants, we should all stay vigilant with public health measures and individual precautions to forestall a fast shift in trajectory of the epidemic.

Over the approaching weeks and months, it is going to be vital to keep up a excessive diploma of warning. Any easing of public well being measures have to be carried out slowly with enhanced testing, screening, and genomic evaluation to detect variants of concern. Particularly, there have to be enough contact tracing capability and helps for efficient isolation, given elevated transmissibility of variants of concern.

Canadians are urged to stay vigilant, proceed following native public well being recommendation, and constantly preserve particular person practices that maintain us and our households safer: stay home/self-isolate when you’ve got any symptoms, think about the risks and cut back non-essential actions and outings to a minimal, avoid all non-essential travel, and preserve particular person protecting practices of physical distancing, hand, cough and surface hygiene and wearing a well-fitted and properly worn face mask as appropriate (together with in shared areas, indoors or open air, with individuals from exterior of your speedy family).

Aiming to have the fewest interactions with the fewest variety of individuals, for the shortest time, on the best distance attainable is an easy rule that we will all apply to assist restrict the unfold of COVID-19, whereas vaccine packages broaden to guard all Canadians.

Canadians may go the additional mile by sharing credible data on COVID-19 risks and prevention practices and measures to reduce COVID-19 in communities and by downloading the COVID Alert app to interrupt the cycle of an infection and assist restrict the unfold of COVID-19. Learn my backgrounder to entry extra COVID-19 Information and Resources on methods to scale back the dangers and shield your self and others, together with data on COVID-19 vaccination.

SOURCE Public Well being Company of Canada

For additional data: Media Relations, Public Well being Company of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]