Evidence of meeting #3 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A video is available from Parliament.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
We have been following the data and the science. I believe our National Advisory Committee on Immunization has given us really great advice. We haven't just charged into giving a fourth booster dose, and our vaccine intervals are great.
I actually don't think there's necessarily evidence to say that you couldn't have more boosters. The question is what the subsequent vaccine formulations should look like given that the virus is evolving as we speak so there may not be the same kinds of boosters that we have right now, but numerous researchers and vaccine companies are looking at some of the future vaccines.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
Thank you, Dr. Tam.
Next we go to Dr. Ellis. Go ahead, please, for five minutes.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that.
Dr. Tam, there has been much scientific data and evidence around vaccine hesitancy versus mandates.
In my reading of the literature—and just to be crystal clear, I was a family physician before I became a politician—I haven't read any that has talked about the benefit of vaccine mandates.
Do you have a comment about that?
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
With regard to vaccine mandates, we've been trying to follow, within our program area, what the changes might have been, given some of the announcements by the provinces and territories and, of course, also the federal government. They do seem to boost the level of uptake. That can be to a different extent, depending on the jurisdiction. Each province was a little bit different.
After an announcement that there may be a vaccine requirement, you do see vaccine uptake increase. But they do also—
Conservative
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
—come back down again, of course.
I have to add that we know that the Canadian population has some of the highest vaccination coverage already, so even those few percentage gains are quite significant gains. I think overall Canada has done quite well.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Dr. Tam, I asked what the science would say about vaccine hesitancy and how it should be addressed. From my reading of the literature, vaccine mandates are not part of the science around this, and this Liberal government really talks a lot about using the science. Am I right or wrong?
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
You have to take a very holistic approach, I think, to increase vaccine coverage. Addressing vaccine hesitancy is one of them, particularly in providing the information that an individual needs to make that decision. There's also access to the vaccine. Indeed, access to information, access to the vaccine, combatting misinformation and disinformation—they are all very important. We're also supporting funding to different community and other trusted organizations to get the messaging out on vaccines on their safety and effectiveness. That is very important.
Vaccine mandates can be another layer of increasing vaccine coverage. We have seen some data now to show that vaccine coverage can increase for a period of time after announcements. That information is being gathered.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
I'd like a quick answer, yes or no: Is that part of the scientific literature, yes or no ?
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
That is part of the data that is being collected.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
That's not a scientific study, though.
Thanks very much—
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
There are studies that—
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
No, that's okay. I appreciate that.
Here's a question for anyone who wants to answer. I've asked this before. The Liberal Party has boasted about 7,500 health care workers. Does anybody know how many have been hired?
Answer, anybody out there.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Just give a number, sir, if you can—just a number.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
I don't have a specific number. I do know that provinces are working to hire health care workers and that the Government of Canada is working to support them in that venture.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Are you saying, Dr. Lucas, that there have been people who've been hired out of those 7,500? How many? Do we know? Is it five, or...?
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
As I indicated, I'm not aware of a specific number. The Canadian Institute for Health Information does track those statistics. We are working with them in terms of the overall health human resource challenges that we face now.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Okay.
I have another real simple question. What is the cost of a course of Paxlovid?
Conservative
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
I don't have that specific number offhand. I'll turn to my colleagues on that. Dr. Kochhar of the Public Health Agency or Deputy Thompson at PSPC may have that information. Otherwise, we can provide it back to the committee for you, honourable member.
Conservative
Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS
I appreciate that.
Here's a third thing. In the 1940s, we could build a 10,000-tonne ship, which is the size of a Canadian frigate, in 107 days. Why can we not domestically produce rapid tests, domestically produce vaccines and domestically produce antivirals? One huge ship in 107 days: Why do we not have domestic supply in Canada?
That's for Dr. Lucas, perhaps.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
As has been noted in previous testimony and in questions, we have seen remarkable work done in the country by firms working to produce personal protective equipment; medical equipment, including ventilators; and rapid tests. There is a Canadian firm providing supply now. As well, there are PCR lab tests and serological tests produced by Canadian suppliers. We have a number of Canadian vaccine candidates in development in clinical trials, including the Medicago submission referred to earlier.