Evidence of meeting #33 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
What's the timeline? What kind of timeline are you working on right now, or has the government given you any timeline to work on?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
As you know, our plan is to see all Canadians vaccinated by September, and we're working in that regard. Obviously, that sets a timeline for the utility of this particular topic we're referring to.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
You said, “by September”. Is that fully vaccinated?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
How are you defining “fully vaccinated”?
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
That's two shots for every Canadian who needs it, or one shot of J & J.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
The addressable public who want to have a vaccine will be offered a vaccine sufficient—
Conservative
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
We're hoping by the end of September that all eligible Canadians who want to be vaccinated have had the offer of two doses. Yes, that is our intent.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.
We'll go now to Ms. Sidhu for four minutes.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair; and thank you, minister, to you and your team for appearing today.
My question is to Dr. Tam.
Dr. Tam, there's a false belief out there that young adults and children do not need to worry about COVID. Tragically, a 13-year-old girl from Brampton passed away from the virus last week, and many of the individuals filling our hospitals are under the age of 40.
What message would you like to send to Canadians about the threat posed by COVID-19 to young people?
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Thank you for the question.
Chair, I want to reiterate that although COVID-19 can affect individuals of any age, serious outcomes are much more common in older age groups.
However, when there are a lot of cases and the third wave is accelerating through the population, we are seeing younger populations being affected. In fact, one of the higher increases we're seeing is actually the 40- to 49-year age group, and then the 60- to 69-year age group, as well as some even younger individuals. That's what's actually impacting the ICU capacity at the moment in a number of the provinces.
The bottom line is that everyone needs to protect themselves by using individual protective measures and also getting the vaccine as soon as they're eligible for it.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Thank you.
The next question is for Mr. Stewart.
Just to clarify, earlier you spoke about the number of people who tested positive at the border. I wanted to confirm that the number was at arrival and not after three days.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Thank you for the follow-up question. The number I provided was specifically in response to a question about the day eight test. It was not a question of the total testing and the total numbers of people tested.
Just to clarify in that regard, we tested about 369,000 people, if you include the day one test and the day 10 test, in Canada, and then, of course, everybody was tested external to Canada before they even arrived at the gate.
Thank you for your question.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Thank you for the clarification.
Minister, as you know, Brampton is a hot-spot zone for COVID-19. The region is home to so many essential workers who live in multi-generational homes. With a positivity rate of 22%, Peel needs support. Unfortunately, the province did not direct sufficient resources to Peel early enough.
Minister, what support has the federal government already provided directly to Peel?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Listen, I'll repeat that managing COVID in communities is a lot of work at every level of government and community. It's been a pleasure to work with Dr. Loh. I have to say that meeting with Dr. Loh and his team early on in the pandemic and regularly connecting with him to understand how we can best support Peel and the Brampton region has been really critically important and has informed us.
As you know, we've provided many supports to Peel, including on-the-ground support in long-term care facilities in the tragic first wave, the public health outbreak response from the Public Health Agency of Canada, a voluntary isolation site for the Peel region, 300 federal contact tracers performing 2,500 to 3,000 calls a day in Ontario, additional voluntary isolation sites across the province, 11 million rapid tests, support to deploy those rapid tests in workplaces, and of course the $5 billion to Ontario through the safe restart.
I'll continue to work with Dr. Loh, MP Sidhu; you have my word. I want to congratulate him on taking strong measures to protect workers in workplaces. I do believe that will really help the Peel region and protect those vulnerable workers.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Sidhu.
We'll now go to...I'm not sure who. Is it Mr. Barlow?
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I'm not sure if John wants to go, but I'll go—very quickly, if we're out of time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Okay, Ms. Rempel Garner. We are really hamstrung for time, so please try to shorten it up.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I will.
Mr. Stewart, Major-General Fortin said that we don't have a line of sight on the AstraZeneca vaccine deliveries for the coming months. In France there has been a recommendation made for persons who have received the first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but now aren't eligible for it given other risk concerns, to be given a dose of an mRNA vaccine or another vaccine.
Is Health Canada actively looking at providing similar advice to such persons?
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Deputy Lucas would be better placed to speak about Health Canada advice.
Dany was accurate in saying that we do not currently know of plans for AstraZeneca deliveries on a specific date, which was your question, but we do in fact have AstraZeneca forthcoming and we have several sources of supply in that regard. I myself had a first dose of AstraZeneca, and I have every comfort that I'll get my second dose in due course.
There are studies internationally looking at mixing doses. It seems like that's an area of science that might be promising. Dr. Tam is a far better person than I am to speak to this mix-and-match that is being investigated in Europe.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I would just ask if anybody is providing advice or if there is likely to be a recommendation forthcoming in this regard.
President, Public Health Agency of Canada
Perhaps I can ask Theresa to speak to your question.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Yes, the clinical trials are ongoing. The regulator, Health Canada, as well as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization will be looking at that very question.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
When is that recommendation, that advice, likely to come out?
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
In the case of some of the international clinical trials, some of them will be available in the next weeks. What we're looking at is that the AstraZeneca vaccine actually performs better at 12 weeks, at least, in terms of interval, so we expect to have some of these answers prior to individuals needing their second dose.