The first batch of Canada’s supply of the newly approved AstraZenica-Oxford vaccine are set to arrive tomorrow but public health officials still have some issues to sort out before they can deliver the shots to Provinces.
The vaccine has been given a guideline by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to not using the shots in people aged 65 and older. They mention the lack of clinic data available on the vaccines effectiveness in preventing Covid-19 infection among people in the older cohort.
The 300,000 to 500,000 doses set to arrive this week from the Serum Institute in India will expire in just a month’s time.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer says that the NACI is prepared to update the guidance as they see more and more real world data accumulated but for now the AstraZeneca product should be directed at younger Canadians.
It’s up to the Provinces and Territories to decide how to best put the shots to use. Some scheduling adjustments will be required because most jurisdictions, such as Huron Perth and Wellington County, are focused on vaccinating the elderly at this stage of the immunization campaign.
