Health Committee on June 14th, 2021

[Iain Stewart]

I don't have an estimate, and I'm not aware that we've done one.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Is this going to be completed, given that it may affect reopening targets?

[Iain Stewart]

We do have estimates of the volume of Canadians abroad and the likely patterns of their returning based on annual movements. Those are underpinning our volume determinations.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Could you table that with committee, please?

[Iain Stewart]

I will see what is available that is appropriate to be tabled in this way.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

With respect to the June 9 announcement to allow those who are currently allowed to travel to Canada with two doses to return to Canada without the 14-day quarantine requirement, has there been a date set yet by the federal government on which that provision would be implemented?

[Iain Stewart]

Is that a question for me?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Yes.

[Iain Stewart]

Thank you.

We are looking at different operational scenarios. The timeline that was indicated by the minister was the first week of July. The specific date is based on rollout planning.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

When would that specific date be?

[Iain Stewart]

That has not yet been made public.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.

We go now to Ms. Sidhu.

Ms. Sidhu, go ahead, please, for six minutes.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses for joining us today.

My question is for Dr. Tunis.

As of this morning, most Peel residents and residents across Ontario hot spots can book their second dose of vaccine, thanks to the increased supply. At our last meeting, Dr. Loh was here and told us about the importance of getting second doses to protect us from variants.

What can you tell us about the effectiveness against the delta variant of any of the vaccines authorized in Canada?

[Dr. Matthew Tunis, Executive Secretary, National Advisory Committee on Immunization]

Thank you for the question.

NACI has been monitoring global vaccine effectiveness against a number of variants of concern. We have seen recent evidence from the United Kingdom looking at the delta variant or B1.617.2. That variant does seem to respond very well to two doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine. In both cases when the second dose is provided, then you see a really strong improvement in protection. There is also some protection offered by the first dose of vaccine, as has been studied in the U.K.

This hasn't made its way into any advice from the NACI to the agency yet, but the committee has been monitoring that evidence closely. Obviously, it is a point of concern as that variant is emerging in Canada. The committee continues to study it. I believe it was somewhere in the 60% range for AstraZeneca. It is somewhere in the 80% range for the Pfizer vaccine.

I will note that's against symptomatic infection. We have not yet seen the evidence regarding how well those vaccines protect against severe outcomes like hospitalization and death. They are expected in general to give higher protection than what we get against symptomatic infection, as we've seen across a number of other vaccine-effectiveness studies. It's quite encouraging that these vaccines that we have access to and are using in Canada, once provided with that complete series, are expected to provide protection against the delta variant.

Thank you.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you.

As a follow-up question to that, Dr. Tam, although the vaccine rollout is going very well, as Dr. Tunis said, the delta variant is present in Canada.

What should residents in the community know about how this variant differs from the other ones?

[Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada]

Thank for that question, Mr. Chair.

I think we've been communicating that this particular variant, the delta variant, is more transmissible. It spreads more easily. Doubling down on making sure that they are observing their personal protective measures and observing public health advice are very important for the individual.

The data is not as robust about the impact of this variant on the severity of outcomes. There are some early indications that there may be increased hospitalizations as well with this variant.

My message has been that you have to be very vigilant between your first dose and second dose. Please roll up your sleeves and get two doses for a two-dose vaccine schedule. The provinces right now are accelerating their second doses. We see that in the data that we have on what's being provided right now.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you, Dr. Tam.

The next question Dr. Lucas or Mr. Stewart can answer.

Public health officials, doctors and scientists have said that vaccines are the best way to protect people from severe COVID-19 outcomes and death from illness, a key part of the post-pandemic return to normal.

For anyone listening who might still be hesitant to get their first dose, what would you say to them directly?

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

I would certainly say that it is critical both to protect yourself and to protect others in your family and your community. It is essential to get your first dose and then complete the series with your second dose.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you.

General Brodie, I believe that, as of today, roughly 73.6% of eligible Canadians have received at least a first dose, which means, based on anticipated vaccine deliveries, what is the latest that every Canadian who wants to be could be vaccinated?

[Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, Vice-President, Logistics and Operations, Public Health Agency of Canada]

Mr. Chair, honourable members, we're working very closely with the provinces and territories to determine their needs and how much they can absorb and with our modellers to define what that sweet spot is with respect to having enough vaccines available from a supply perspective in order to support the vaccination campaigns.

Certainly, with the current numbers that we're tracking, if the supply stays steady, then we have every confidence that we'll have enough vaccines to meet that requirement by the end of the summer. Certainly, as we refine those numbers and the ability of the provinces to absorb vaccines, we'll further refine those numbers. We're tracking very closely on a week-by-week basis, particularly as we get into the middle of July and beyond to refine those numbers.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Thank you, General Brodie.

The next question is for the deputy minister of Public Safety.

Throughout the pandemic, Public Safety has approved 85 requests for assistance from the provinces and territories. Can you speak to the process and collaboration that exists between your portfolio and those of your counterparts?

[Rob Stewart]

We work in close collaboration with public health, and also with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Red Cross, to respond to requests for assistance from provinces and territories. There is an extensive coordination process that goes into the formulation of the formal request, wherein there's a lot of discussion and a refinement of what we can do to meet the request. Then there's a formal request made of the Minister of Public Safety. The response is usually, by that point in time, already in train.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Ms. Sidhu.

It's Mr. Lemire's turn now.

Mr. Lemire, you have six minutes.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I received the testimony of a couple who documented their entire journey with Switch Health to get their results.

Let me give you some context. The group arrived on June 2, but they have yet to receive the results of their second test, even though their quarantine ends tomorrow. The man is scheduled to return to work on Wednesday. In her testimony, the woman mentions that she has waited more than two hours on the phone to get the results of her test. In many cases, Switch Health has been contacted ten times.

However, Switch Health officials assured this committee on May 28 that the wait time on the phone had been reduced to 15 minutes, quite a contrast from two hours. They also claimed that people were receiving their results by the 14th day, which clearly will not be the case in this situation.

As a member of Parliament in a riding with many farmers, I don't need to draw you a picture of the failures Switch Health has experienced in the past.

My question is for Mr. Lucas. Has the Department of Health followed up with Switch Health to make sure that these timelines are being met?

What steps has his department taken to ensure that Switch Health responds in a timely manner?

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

I'll turn it over to Iain Stewart.