Health Committee on May 21st, 2021

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I think we are at a turning point, for sure, given the supply. The vast majority of vaccines will be the Pfizer vaccine. Having a diverse portfolio as a backup option is always a good idea.

With the AstraZeneca vaccine, the provinces and territories have chosen to pause giving any more new first doses. We do, however, need additional supplies, which we have, for the second dose for people who wish to take the AstraZeneca because they started on that schedule.

As you probably appreciate, there are data that we are still looking at on the mixed schedule. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization, once they have that data, will be able to provide a recommendation to determine whether the mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer, are suitable for that second dose.

After that, there still need to be some backup options for people who might be allergic to mRNA vaccines or who for some other reason can't take them. It's still important to have some diversification in our approach.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. Thériault.

We go now to Mr. Davies.

Mr. Davies, go ahead for six minutes, please.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the witnesses for being here.

Dr. Tam, can a partially vaccinated individual transmit COVID-19?

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

The data is still accumulating. Some studies have shown that even with one dose there is a reduction in transmission to others. It won't be 100%, nor would it be that even with two doses. I think the data is trending in a very positive direction.

I would just clarify. Of course, if you prevent infection, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, you will reduce transmission. That's one thing. Those vaccines, even after one dose, have had a very high vaccine effectiveness, particularly against serious outcomes. That's very positive.

One study, for example, from the United Kingdom, demonstrated a 50% to 60% or so reduction in transmission. Overall, even with one dose we expect to see that effect.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

That's a long reach to an answer that I think is that a partially vaccinated individual can transmit COVID-19.

Would that be a correct statement?

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

We believe that would be a correct statement.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Okay.

Thank you.

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

Of course, even a fully vaccinated person will have a much reduced risk, but there is the potential.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you.

I'm not sure whom to ask this question of, Mr. Stewart or Mr. Ossowski.

How many doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are currently sitting in Canadian freezers?

[Iain Stewart]

Mr. Chair and honourable member, this question would be for me, I think.

Remember, honourable member, we just received a shipment of 655,000 doses of AstraZeneca. Those are only being distributed over the past week. A lot of them will be in handling and storage for further onward distribution.

The answer, then, I guess is, more than 655,000, to the extent that the provinces have had a few left over from the previous shipment.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Do you expect that all of those doses will be administered, or will some be allowed to expire?

[Iain Stewart]

Oh, I think nobody wants to have any doses expire. I think the provinces are very conscious of the fact that there's a need to get them into use. I would go on to add that I think the provinces, as Dr. Tam mentioned, are beginning to move away from first doses of AstraZeneca and towards second doses.

There's going to be a bit of watching this space. As you probably know, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is also looking at the idea of mix and match, whereby, instead of second dose....

I'm sorry, sir.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

You anticipated my next question, which is whether NACI is planning to issue guidance on dose mixing for Canadians who received the AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose.

If so, when can Canadians expect that guidance will be issued?

[Iain Stewart]

Maybe, Theresa, I can turn this topic over to you.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, can I have my time halted, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Yes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

I'm not sure who's waiting to answer.

Dr. Tam, are you going to answer that question?

I can't hear Dr. Tam.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Dr. Tam, you're now muted.

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

Sorry.

The evidence that NACI is waiting for is likely to be available by the end of May. We expect a recommendation on a mixed schedule around the first week of June.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Okay. Thank you.

Mr. Ossowski, why are hotel quarantine requirements on international travellers applied to people arriving by air but not international travellers crossing the border by ground?

[John Ossowski]

First of all, it's important to understand that, however you come across the border, the perimeter and the quarantine and all the pre-arrival requirements apply. You still have to have a PCR test; you still have a day-one test on arrival; you still get a day eight test; you still have quarantine requirements.

In terms of the pure GAA phenomenon, the reality is that we have 117 land ports of entry and there just simply isn't the hotel infrastructure available to potentially service all those who would cross the land border to put them in a GAA-type situation. From that perspective, we've been relying on our perimeter controls to great effect.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Okay.

You do realize that there have been tens of thousands of travellers who have diverted their plans in order to escape the hotel quarantining by simply changing their flights to land in U.S. border towns and crossing by vehicle. Are you aware of that phenomenon?

[John Ossowski]

Yes, I am.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Do you have any comment on that? Has that reduced the effectiveness of the hotel quarantine policy?

[John Ossowski]

As I say, in the quarantine requirements and the referrals that we would make to PHAC if we find that people are offside with respect to the quality of their quarantine plans or some other issue, the perimeter control regime is well established. I think the infection rates demonstrate that.