Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for inviting Public Health Agency of Canada officials to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are pleased to be here. Joining me today are Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer; and Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer. Also accompanying me are Ms. Cindy Evans, vice-president of emergency management; Stephen Bent, acting vice-president, vaccine rollout task force; and Ms. Jennifer Lutfallah, vice-president, health security and regional operations.
Since we last provided you with an update, there have been significant changes across the country. However one thing has stayed the same. COVID-19 is still circulating widely. Disease activity remains high in Canada, and the BA.2 sublineage now accounts for more than 90% of sequence variants. However, there are early signs that transmission may be nearing a peak in some jurisdictions.
We expect further ups and downs over the coming months, but maintaining a vaccines-plus approach can provide us with better protection going forward. This means continuing to take personal precautions like masking, improving ventilation and staying home when we have symptoms or test positive. It also means maintaining a strong core of protection against severe illness by getting up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including booster doses. It is a crucial time to ensure that we and our loved ones are up to date on routine vaccination and catch up on any that have been missed or delayed over the pandemic. Vaccinations help keep us healthy from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood.
As of January 2022, over 74 million total doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Canada. I'm pleased that the number now stands at more than 83 million. Nationally, more than 89% of eligible Canadians, those five years of age and older, have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Approximately 81% of the population has received two doses, and as of April 29, more than 18 million Canadians have received a booster dose.
At this time, the national advisory committee on immunization strongly recommends a first booster dose for adults aged 18 years or older, and adolescents from 12 years to 17 years of age who are at high risk of severe outcome or exposure.
In addition, NACI recommends that a first booster dose may be offered to anyone aged 12 years or older in the context of heightened epidemiological risk. NACI is also recommending that a second booster dose be rapidly deployed and prioritized for those who are expected to benefit the most, namely the residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors, and seniors 80 years of age or older living in the community. At this time, Canada has a sufficient supply of mRNA booster doses for all eligible Canadians.
Internationally, the outlook for COVID-19 has shifted. So too has our approach at our borders. When I last appeared, everyone coming to Canada had to be tested for COVID-19 prior to arriving at the border. However, on February 28, we expanded the options for the pre-entry test requirements, and then on April 1, we removed this requirement for fully vaccinated travellers. As of April 25, we removed the pre-entry testing requirements for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged five to 11 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent, step-parent, grandparent, guardian or tutor. Pre-entry tests are however still required for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers aged 12 or older.
We continue to monitor our borders and assess risk, and our measures remain flexible and adaptable so that we are prepared for future scenarios.
We are at a turning point in the pandemic. We are transitioning to sustainable management. Progress may not be linear and, at the same time, we are preparing for future waves and a possible worst‑case scenario.
I encourage everyone to keep their COVID‑19 vaccines up‑to‑date, including getting a booster.
Be aware of the risks in your community and maintain individual protective practices, such as wearing a mask and staying home when sick.
Together, these measures will help protect us as we move forward.