How long does it take to train someone?
Evidence of meeting #38 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was doses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #38 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was doses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Vice-President, Travellers Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
It's a 16-week program offered through the CBSA College and it's followed by 12 months of ongoing training in the field.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Thériault.
We'll go now to Mr. Davies.
Mr. Davies, go ahead, please, for one minute.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you.
I was just checking the U.S. numbers. As of May 19, the U.S. had vaccinated 60% of Americans with one dose, and 37% have received two doses.
With these self-congratulations and the government patting itself on the back for finally getting first doses up, I'm just wondering if they're winning a race that nobody else is running in. Obviously, with the United States at 37% of full vaccinations, the U.K. at 31% of full vaccinations and even the EU at 16% of full vaccinations versus Canada's 3%, it means that the U.S. has 13 times the number of people fully vaccinated, the U.K. has 10 times the number of people who are fully vaccinated and the EU has five times.
It appears to me that you'd almost think we did this deliberately, that we decided we'd go for one vaccine because it was the best epidemiological approach, instead of the truth, which is that we did it because we had a shortage of vaccines.
I'm just wondering. Considering that the EU, the U.K. and the U.S. have all proceeded with a full vaccination strategy, Dr. Tam, can you tell me if it's not better to have more of our population fully vaccinated than not?
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Thank you for the question.
As I said, we should have everybody getting two doses.
I think the stretched interval has been an extremely good strategy. The U.K. has done the same, by the way, and has seen very good results. According to their study—I was just bringing it up from the recesses of my memory—in fact, if you stretch the Pfizer vaccine dose, even for seniors 80 years of age and older, people will have a greater antibody response at 12 weeks, compared with three weeks.
As you said—and I totally agree—it's not a race with other countries. We need to take care of Canada. All Canadians should get that two-dose vaccine, and we will look towards a much more hopeful and optimistic summer and fall.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
Thank you to all the witnesses for appearing here today to help us with our inquiries. I also thank you for your ongoing dedication 24-7 and commitment to the health and safety of Canadians.
Thank you to the committee for all of the great questions. It's good information.
With that, we are now adjourned.