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Chief Medical Officer of Health

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New Type Of COVID Vaccine Available In The Fall

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The turn of the weather in Ontario could mean a new type of vaccine in the fall, in the fight against COVID-19.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore told reporters last week that the bivalent vaccine will be effective against two or more variants of the virus.

“We’re getting clarity though on what that Omicron variant will be,” Dr. Kieran Moore said. “As you may have heard, the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) is requesting a BA 4 and BA 5 variant be a component of the bivalent (vaccine), and we know that manufacturers have already created a BA 1 bivalent vaccine.”

Dr. Moore added that the exact timing for the new vaccine still isn’t known, but it could be available by November or December.

Vaccines that are currently available are monovalent, which means that they are tailored solely to the original novel coronavirus.

Moderna Canada submitted its bivalent booster candidate to Health Canada on June 30 for regulatory approval.

Pfizer Canada also has plans to seek approval for another COVID-19 vaccine.

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Manitoba Easing COVID-19 Restrictions Starting Next Week

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The Province of Manitoba is loosening COVID-19 restrictions starting next Tuesday.

Premier Heather Stefanson says this is the first phase of reducing health protocols.

“Effective Tuesday, March 1, the required use of vaccine cards will be eliminated, and effective March 15th, mask requirements, and all other restrictions will be eliminated,” states Stefanson.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Brent Roussin says they will move to public health recommendations instead of restrictions.

“Looking at the data here we’ve expedited by a week compared to what we’ve had before. These ones were originally going to expire on (February) 22nd, but from what we’re seeing we felt comfortable with moving it to this date.”

Dr. Roussin says they will move to public health recommendations instead of health restrictions.

Here are some of the news restrictions:

Capacity limits will be eliminated in venues such as restaurants, licensed premises, entertainment venues, indoor and outdoor sporting events, and casinos, as well as gatherings at private residences. Capacity limits will be removed for outdoor public gatherings but will be limited to 50 people indoors unless proof of vaccination is required. Young people ages 12 to 17 participating in indoor sports and recreation will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination or recent testing. There are no changes to retail and personal services.

As of Feb. 15, close contacts of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to self-isolate. Public health continues to recommend self-isolation for people who live in a household with others who have symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 but it will no longer be required.

Effective Feb. 15, schools will return to Yellow (Caution) under the Pandemic Response System, which requires cohorts in kindergarten to Grade 6. Masks are required indoors for staff and students but will not be required during physical education classes. Medical masks will be recommended but no longer required for school staff.

Schools will continue to send out community notification letters if public health officials have identified increased transmission or recommended remote learning for a class, cohort, or entire school. The online dashboard will continue to post this information but will no longer include case numbers. Children, school staff, and child-care staff will only be eligible for PCR testing if medically indicated, in line with eligibility criteria for all Manitobans.

The province plans to remove proof of vaccination requirements effective March 1. In some settings, such as personal care homes, shelters, and healthcare facilities, public health officials have continued to work with facilities to notify close contacts. Effective March 8, this will no longer occur. Mask requirements and other restrictions will be lifted effective March 15.

(Photo: Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson)

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Chief Medical Officer Of Health Makes Call For Arms

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Ontario’s new Medical Officer of Health is making a “call for arms”.

Dr. Kieran Moore says the province’s vaccination rate is good, but youth between the ages of 12 and 17 aren’t being immunized as quickly.

“One-third of eligible Ontarians don’t have protection going into the fall,” stresses Dr. Moore.

“We want at a minimum the highest possible level of protection for all Ontarians for a safe and secure reopening.”

Dr. Moore says while the single-dose vaccination rate among adults in Ontario is 78 percent, and the double-dose rate is 47.8 percent, it’s only 67.5 percent for all eligible Ontarians and 39.6 have two doses.

“We have to maintain a high level of immunization if we’re going to beat this virus. This is a call for arms. Each and every Ontarian that rolls up their sleeve and bares their arm helps make our fight against COVID-19 and the Delta variant makes it that much easier and safer for the fall.”

He says it’s our collective responsibility for anyone who is eligible to be immunized as soon as possible.

Dr. Moore says he would like to see our vaccination rates go up at least another 10 to 15 percent and they have a “multi-model” plan to get those numbers up.