Canada reports 1st case of blood clot developed in resident vaccinated with AstraZeneca
by Cormac Mac Sweeney
Last Updated Apr 13, 2021 at 2:38 pm EDT
A Quebec woman is the first in Canada to develop a blood clot after being vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Quebec health ministry and Public Health Agency of Canada reported the event connected to the AstraZeneca vaccine Tuesday.
NEW: The Public Health Agency says it has received reports of an individual in Canada developing the very rare side effect of a blood clot following vaccination with the Astra Zeneca shot. #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/k4GBeKJQKp
Quebec says the female patient, whose age was not revealed, received the appropriate care and is recovering at home.
Despite Canada's first reported blood clot in a person who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Public Health Agency says this adverse effect remains rare.
Head of Canada s vaccine distribution defends premiers in midst of criticism over sluggish rollout
by Cormac Mac Sweeney
Last Updated Apr 8, 2021 at 2:00 pm EDT
As premiers face questions about the speed of administering COVID-19 vaccines, the head of Canada’s vaccine distribution is backing up the provinces.
So far, 10.5-million vaccines have been delivered to provinces and territories but only 7-million have been applied into the arms of Canadians.
The gap has prompted a lot of questions and criticisms for some provincial governments as we see rising COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations.
But Major Gen. Dany Fortin, who is in charge of the logistics of vaccine deliveries to the provinces, is defending the premiers saying they are not dragging their feet.
Several provinces are following NACI’s latest guidance in an effort to get more people vaccinated with a first shot quicker.
The panel says it expects the administration of second doses won’t end up taking as long as four months based on Canada’s expected vaccine supply.
“NACI has also emphasized that jurisdiction, when determining the vaccine policy within provinces and territories, may choose to shorten the interval between the first and second dose in specific populations based on local epidemiology, local vaccine supply, public health considerations, and emerging data,” Deeks said.
However, some medical research experts argue that large gap is risky because it could lead to a new variant and result in less protection months down the line for people who are vulnerable.
Vaccine rollout still under scrutiny, even as Canada delivers 10M doses to provinces
Last Updated Apr 6, 2021 at 9:52 am PDT
A health-care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Summary
Canada has delivered 10-million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to provinces
Questions loom around pace of vaccine delivery in provinces as numbers highlight gaps in doses shipped vs. administered
Federal Conservatives criticizing Trudeau government over pandemic response, call for inquiry
OTTAWA – The federal government has hit a milestone for vaccine distribution, but it’s raising some questions about just how quickly those shots are getting into people’s arms.