Health Committee on June 8th, 2022

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

Mr. Chair, I'll start again.

Merck's application for authorization for the antiviral drug molnupiravir is under review. Health Canada's regulatory team is using data from Merck's clinical trials to assess the benefits and risks of this product.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Last time, you told me the same thing, saying that it was coming in a few weeks. It's been a few months already.

Is there a problem?

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

It's always important to assess the quality, efficacy and safety of a product before it's approved. Health Canada continues to review the antiviral drug molnupiravir for the treatment of COVID‑19.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I agree. There is no need to compromise on this. However, the product has been registered in many other countries around the world. What's stopping Canada from registering it in a decent period of time? It's becoming indecent. We would need two antiviral drugs, with distinct effects, on the market.

Don't you agree?

If there is no issue, what's happening? Is the delay due to lack of staff to do the right thing? There must be a problem, since it has been approved in many other countries around the world.

[Dr. Stephen Lucas]

Health Canada is continuing its review process using Merck's data in collaboration with other regulatory agencies, such as the European Medicines Association and the Swiss regulatory agency. It's an important and independent process that must be conducted using scientific data.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Dr. Lucas.

Next we have Mr. Davies, please, for two and a half minutes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Dr. Tam, can you tell us PHAC's assessment of the chances of a seventh wave of COVID in the fall?

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

Mr. Chair, the pandemic is not over, and given the continuous evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, we think that it's very likely that we will get some more viral activity in the future. We can't predict exactly how big the next wave is, but I think we need to prepare. We need to prepare for the fall and winter season.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you.

What is the current thinking around what the next virus will look like in terms of a mutation?

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

It's very important that we continue to monitor the genomics, the genomic sequencing, which is being done right now. The omicron virus continues to undergo evolution.

You've probably seen the various sublineages. In particular, right now we're monitoring three: the BA.2.12.1, the BA.4 and the BA.5, which have some immune escape properties as well as increased transmissibility.

Those variants could potentially cause an increase in activity. Even more importantly, we're watching out for some very different variants that may, just like omicron when it first started, have come from an immunocompromised host or even from animal sources. Those are even more concerning, and as yet we can't predict that, since it can happen by chance.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you.

Dr. Tam, what's the current thinking in terms of whether there's a significant difference in the ability to transmit COVID-19 between a vaccinated and an unvaccinated person in Canada? I'm thinking in terms of the omicron variant that's prevalent right now.

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

I think omicron was and is a game-changer. Prior to that, two doses of vaccine, for example, had very high efficacy against infection, and therefore transmission, as well as against severe outcomes.

When omicron came along, protection from two doses really waned over time and saw a real decline over time to 20% or less after six months. It is an immune-evasive variant. A third dose gives you a boost back up to 60% on average for protection against infection.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thanks.

Finally, Dr. Tam, many notable public health officers in this country at the provincial level have called for decriminalization of drugs as the proper health policy response to the overdose epidemic.

What is your opinion on that as Canada's chief public health officer?

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

The opioid and polysubstance use crisis is a challenge for public health. We should not treat it as a criminal issue, so I think the recent policy changes, in particular what has been happening in British Columbia just very recently, are a step in the right direction, though we should always treat the crisis as a public health issue.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Dr. Tam.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Davies.

We have Dr. Ellis for five minutes.

Go ahead, please.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a heads-up that I have some policy questions for whoever might want to answer them.

Unvaccinated travel on a federally regulated boat in Canada—is that permissible? I'm asking for a simple yes or no.

[Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar]

Mr. Chair, this is Harpreet. The question, if I heard correctly, is whether unvaccinated travel on a boat is permitted. I'm sorry. I'm just asking—

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

That's it, Doc. You got it.

[Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar]

At this point, any unvaccinated travel on a boat specifically entering into Canada is not permitted.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

What about a ferry there, Dr. Kochhar?

[Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar]

In terms of the border measures we currently have, I think—

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

That's inside of Canada, Doc.

[Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar]

On a ferry in Canadian waters, there is no such restriction.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

I'm sorry, but you're saying that unvaccinated people can get on ferries inside Canada? Is that what you're saying?