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Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu

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Federal Government Easing Some Travel Restrictions

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Canada is starting to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated people.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says starting July 5th, fully vaccinated air travelers will not have to quarantine or
stay in a quarantine hotel.

“This announcement today is a great step on the way to the alleviation of measures at the border and it reflects a confidence in the science that is evolving around the effectiveness of full vaccination,” states Hajdu.

Hajdu adds this is phase one of their travel plan.

“We’ll proceed with caution. This is what Canadians expect of us. They expect us to not to squander those hard-won gains over the last year-and-a-half. Again I thank Canadians for the sacrifices they’re making to keep themselves and their communities safe.”

Hajdu says anyone with two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca, or J and J vaccines will be able to take advantage of the loosened travel restrictions.

She adds travelers will have to provide documentation that they have received both doses of the COVID-19
vaccine and will have to be tested prior to arriving in Canada.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the travel ban for India will continue, but the flight ban to Pakistan is being lifted.

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Ontario Getting Plant To Manufacture Vaccines

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A new vaccine manufacturing facility is coming to Toronto.

Officials unveiled the details Wednesday morning, which will include a $415 million investment from the federal government and $55 million from the province.

Sanofi Pasteur Limited will be the company behind the facility, which will focus on drug product formulation, fill and finish and inspection of flu vaccines.

The company will contribute more than $455 million as well as create 1,225 jobs.

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Patty Hajdu Looks Back At 2020

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What a year to be on the job training so to speak.

Thunder Bay Superior North MP Patty Hajdu has been the Minister of Health since after the last federal election in 2019.

Hajdu says it’s been a challenge, but one she’s honoured to do for all Canadians

“Certainly serving my country during it’s greatest time of need in a long while is an even bigger honour, notwithstanding the incredible number of hours that it takes to fulfill that honour,” Hajdu says, with a laugh.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Hajdu is optimistic 2021 will be better with both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines receiving Health Canada approval before Christmas.

The Minister of Health says there were a few surprises to her learning about the portfolio: “When I look at the work of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency; How quickly and how rapidly both of the departments were able to scale up their capacity and really come through for Canadians. I was very, very impressed!” remarks Hajdu.

Another revelation about the Health file, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: “Learning about food inspections and how we monitor food safety in this country was truly interesting and certainly a big part of my portfolio as well that doesn’t get spoken abut very often.”

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Canada Plans For When We Have A COVID Vaccine

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Canada’s health minister is working on a COVID-19 communications plan.

Patty Hajdu telling Acadia Broadcasting’s John Ongaro tells us they are preparing for when a vaccine is made available.

“We are working on how to communicate to Canadians in a clear way about potential vaccines and then how are we going to prioritize who gets the vaccine first,” Hajdu says.

Hajdu says vaccinating 37 million people won’t happen overnight and that’s why they need a plan.

The health minister adds for the most part Canadians are trusting in the health care system and future vaccines for COVID-19.

“I’m very proud of Canadians they are more rational in some ways, they have a stronger belief in science and research than some of our southern counterparts,” Hajdu says.

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Hajdu: Canada Taking Careful Approach To Vaccine

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The race is on to find a vaccine for COVID-19.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu shares with Acadia Broadcasting’s John Ongaro they are taking a careful approach.

“We will never compromise the safety of Canadians health for speed. There is no value in that. Just to say you got there first, doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Of course, the world wants a vaccine but it has to be one that is safe and trustworthy,” Hajdu says.

The health minister stresses there is no point in getting a vaccine that doesn’t reach its intended goal of providing immunity against the virus.

Health Canada recently authorized the drug remdesivir for some COVID-19 patients.

“It is useful in a very specific time frame for people who are ill with coronavirus, it helps reduce inflammation and it is not for every particular case of coronavirus but it is helpful,” Hajdu says.