is reduced. And so getting ahead of the fall Resurgence is very important. And as I've said in my opening remarks that even the current vaccine provides good protection against particularly severe outcomes. And a boost to those will enhance that. So this by valen Omicron vaccine uses a spike that is quite different already from the original strain and this by valen vaccine provides good in renal genericity in a clinical trial, so I think the message is up to date that your booster if you haven't had anything in terms of vaccination or infection in the last six months
glucosides. Next question. Yo, I just came. We cannot hear you.
Okay, we're going to go on to Laura Osman, from the Canadian Press.
Good afternoon. Thanks for taking our questions. I wanted to ask you, we're hearing from the provinces that they're expecting the very first deliveries of this new AI Vaillant vaccine to be somewhat limited. So they're going to be beginning with those most at risk. I'm wondering again, to build on my colleagues question. People are likely not just waiting for the next version of the vaccines to be 8.5. But how long do you expect them to wait for the currently approved the BA point one? Multi Valent vaccine? Do you have a sense of when there will be enough vaccine in the country that the average non sort of non immunocompromised person may be able to get their hands on one?
Thank you, Laura. And the short answer is that supply is not an issue. We are going to receive tomorrow 780,000 vaccines of the by valen type, just to give you an order of magnitude in the last few weeks. We have seen about 200,000 vaccinations per week. So 200,000 on average in the last few weeks 780,000 delivered tomorrow to Canada and obviously quickly sent to provinces and territories, a total of 10 point 5 million in September. And when 5 million is approximately 30% of the adult population, which is enough to bridge the 60 to 90% gap that I mentioned earlier. And with the additional doses coming later, and with the doses already available, we have ample supply to vaccinate all Canadians are constantly vaccinated in the short and in the longer term. The issue is how easy from a physical perspective it will be for people to access a vaccination facility that depends on the information that people can have access to the vaccinators people's worker that will need to find in different provinces and territories for vaccination to take place or information, ease of access that proximity to where people live, how to reach more vulnerable, more marginalized communities who need more better information and sometimes just a little help for them to find it easy and appropriate to get the protection that they need and that they deserve. So it's more of a human resource worker challenge that is significant for provinces and territories. If we want the next week to administer the 10 point 5 million by VLANs. Also that we'll be receiving in September.
Thank you so much. I want to ask you as well. You mentioned our comparatively poor booster rates for people getting a third dose. You mentioned in the summer earlier this summer that the federal government was going to be trying to work on some campaigns to convince people to get boosted what can we expect to see now these by Leland doses are going to start to arrive to encourage people to actually get them.
A national campaign will start next week. The The title is prediction Wayne's action is required. So it's like a phone battery. Your phone battery WANs note needs to be recharged for your back for your phone to work, you have a broken power to operate, and for your vaccination protection to be effective. So you recharge your phone battery by plugging into the electricity, you recharge your vaccine protection by taking action and getting vaccination, no protection. So that's going to start next week. This is obviously a national campaign, we know that provinces and territories will continue to increase their efforts at reaching people speaking in terms that inform and sometimes reassure them, with community leaders with health care experts, like Dr. Solvay and many others. So it's a big team effort. We are obviously there to support the efforts of President territory because supporting those efforts will be key in linking the people to the vaccine.
All goes back to me. Rafael, we can't hear you I'm Can you try once more please? Okay, don't the cow.
All right. Next question, Emily about your home from the past Canadian. Yes, hello, minister to clue with the new deliveries that will be arriving shortly, what will happen with the vaccines that targeted the original strain? What will we be doing to avoid wasting a significant amount of vaccines when there are countries who are less advanced in their vaccinations? That is answer. From the beginning, we have decided to manage this responsibly. And we did this we could share with countries that had a lower vaccine capacity, it has been difficult because of the availability of vaccines. There are still countries who are having issues with supply especially with an mRNA vaccine. And so it will be an option to share these very effective vaccines with these countries in the coming months. And we for the other ones will store them adequately. So there is no waste. Question. Thank you. And I imagine we'll hear more on distribution in the coming weeks and about how additional vaccines will be shared with other countries? Answer yes and Mismeasure when we can give details with you on distribution that has been done in the past weeks and months
for sure. Oliver with CTV News.
Hi, there. Thank you for taking your questions. My first question is just about the interval. Online. It says that the new buy valen vaccine can be given out after four months that I believe Dr. Tam was saying after six. So when exactly do you recommend getting this new shot after either finishing your primary series of vaccine getting COVID or having a booster?
Thank you for the questions. So with our National Advisory Committee on Immunization, we wanted to consolidate the various recommendations and make it simple. And that is if you haven't had a booster or been infected, within a six month timeframe, it's time to get your booster. Of course, though that interval can be adjusted. But we don't advise going down below three months. I think if people want to get the new buy valen vaccine, you get an opportunity to do that with with them. So the three month timeframe, especially if you're at high risk. And so it's actually quite important because we there's there's even more recent data published about the success of the assay recommendations on the intervals to date. And it's it won't give you as much benefit if you weren't down below three months. So that sort of time period that provinces as they implement their programs will be working with but it does work Remember the six month if you haven't had a booster within that six month timeframe, it's been longer than that, please go and get a booster.
Okay, thank you for that clarification. And my follow up. The health minister as well as Dr. Tam, you both mentioned that it's going to be a tough ball. And so given that I'm wondering what you think about Ontario's decision to remove isolation requirements for anybody who tests positive for COVID-19.
I can start and then invite Dr. Tan to provide the more policy scientific basis for how px assesses the public health measures. But obviously, as a health minister, I value and suppose very much importance of my colleagues in different provinces and territories to make decisions, which they believe to be the most appropriate ones at their level, in their positions, and with the experience and expertise that they have accumulated over the last few months. So it's always always always be important for me to recognize that their decisions are anchored in their knowledge and ability to work and to serve the best to the best, possibly their constituents in different provinces and territories. But Dr. Dan, you may want to add or may not need to add anything to that.
Yes, thank you for that question. I think I always advocate for the vaccine plus approach, which vaccine forms are found the key foundational layer of protection. But please consider layering our masks, staying home if you're sick. And of course, maximize ventilation optimize it as much as you can. I think on the event, the key layer of staying home with SEC is what Ontario is trying to implement. I would just say that from a factual scientific basis, people have to remember that if you get infected, you can still shed the virus for quite a number of days. And it could be as long as 10 days. So you got to really be careful even if you're leaving your home. Leaving isolation if you know you've been infected, take all other layers of precaution wear mask, especially if you're going to be in contact with others at high risk.
We say third time's the charm. And with that, I'll have your coffee.
Let's try again have a keyhole. I just came me. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you for your patience. And thank you, Minister secure. And Dr. Tam. My question has to do with the random testing. Some people have been receiving the results after a week, whereas the isolation period is 10 days. And this is especially true for people who take the test to do at home this. It's about 40% of people who are receiving their tests late Do you see this as a failure for the program? I know that it's supposed to help with the detection of variance. But is there perhaps an issue with the execution of this program? Answer? Thank you. And congratulations, I failed on being able to connect to the call. As you mentioned, it is important to understand the goal of this program. It is not to offer individual tests, it's to understand the type of importation of the virus that we're having in Canada. It's not to tell people if they are COVID, positive or negative. It is important data for the public health agency.
It allows us to know how many positive cases of Canada are coming to Canada, what the variants are, where they're coming from.
So it is a scientific and statistical exercise that is not that does not have a goal to give people their individual results. If people are sick, they will generally use a rapid test to find out if they are sick or not. These rapid tests are easily accessible in pharmacies. And so people have tools for their individual circumstances to find out if they're in for acted are not and they can act accordingly. Dr. Tam, if you have anything to add, you may do so no.
No? No, you gave a very good answer. Thank you. Thank you very much. Question. There about 5000 tests, I believe the public health agency wants to test to 5000 people per day. Is there a cost assessment to do for the benefit? Because and the response that I received from public health, is that we were there not able to establish the cost benefit. Yes, but But 5000 tests per day. Are there any other means to do so for example, wastewater detection, which allows us to see the presence of the different variants and knowing that variance coming into the country? Well, it's not necessarily through that measure that we're going to stop them from coming in. So with the cost of benefit assessment, is this something that you might examine for the full? Answer? That's an excellent question, have I? I will say, a little more perhaps, than I should, and then I'll give the floor to Dr. Tam. But if you give me a minute, the agency has to review its different measures by examining the advantages, as well as the costs. So the costs for the government and the cost for people who are being tested, even though it is only a few people that get tested, they do need to take the time to do it. So it is a part of the social costs that the agencies to take into account. That said, there aren't many other ways to proceed in order to have data on where people were coming from, and to have data on positive results. And I will ask Dr. Tim, to give more detail, because even if we're making progress on wastewater data, this is a method that does not give us data that is as specific as the data coming from people entering Canada. And before giving the floor to Dr. Tam. I would like to say that public health agency is trying to work more closely with other countries. They are also developing alternatives to PCR tests. And that's why we need to increase our collaboration because there are more people traveling between these countries and Canada. And this can lead to the importation of COVID-19. And we want to better understand everything so that we can react better and knowing more about the countries of origin is important for us, Dr. Tam, if you have anything to add on the work currently being done by the agency, which is important to work to examine the costs and the advantages of the different ways to follow the importation of COVID-19 in Canada. Answer thank you again, you gave a very comprehensive response. In my view, it is important to re examine the goals
and the way to create and to modify public health measures frequently. So we are re examining our protocols we need between 4005 1000 cases to detect significant variance and we need information On the country of origin.
Currently, there is a system being used the wastewater system. But it is not currently possible to use this system to have information on the country of origin for example. So, it's in, it's difficult to do to get that data from an airport. With wastewater, for example, it's hard to know which person has created that wastewater. Which person has the virus in an airport, it might be domestic, because there are a lot of people who go through an airport. So that system is not robust enough to give us all the data that we need. But as always, we are continuing to assess whether or not it is a method that should be continued
15 minutes and six questions, so we'll try to hit up as many as we can. Next up is Marcia McLeod with the Globe and Mail.
Hi, there. Thanks for taking our questions. My question is from Minister do clo. You said a few minutes ago that Canada and the US are, quote almost simultaneously announcing the same decision regarding these violent vaccines. The US has announced the availability of the vaccine targeting the BA for NBA finds a variance and we've approved obviously the BA one target diversion, could you just clarify what you meant saying, you know, we've made the same decision as the US
decision on Madonna, one day apart. Second, as Dr. Tam will make even more clear in a moment. Now those that blows by valen vaccines, our target Omicron Omicron is a family of some variants, which resemble each other and are quite different from the original string strains. So that's why the idea here is in similarity, like different brothers of the same family, the only con family are very much related in terms of the the actual biological structure. So all of that means that those different types of eye valence axes all related to Omicron share lots of similar things. But for that, to be more precise, that turned back to a doctor.
Yes, I think every country is trying their hardest to update the current vaccines. And we are actually quite aligned. For example, with the European decisions, the EMA made announcements today on the VA, one Omicron by valence vaccine, very similar to us as well. And I think the United Kingdom and others have gone on the same path. I think we're always interested in our American colleagues and their data and what has been submitted. But we have to make sure their health care they receive the information and go through the rigorous process. What I can say is that we do have clinical information from Maderna for the Omicron containing updated vaccine, which shows that the immune response in the people vaccinated shows a good immune as well as the BA for MBA five as well.
Thank you, and just as a follow up, when can Canadians expect to see a Bible and vaccine that specifically targets VA for VA five out here in Canada?
I think of course, we have to let Health Canada do their job the company has to submit, and we believe that's will be quite soon as the submissions but it is the companies that have to do that. And Health Canada colleagues are in a very close communication with the FDA, certainly right now finding out more about the decision making and that they that they have to make that decision. And just to emphasize the in the Massey, our National Advisory Committee on Immunization already made the recommendation at the same time as Health Canada authorized the vaccine in the United States. They They are still deliberating, I think through their nasty equivalence, exactly what the recommendations would be. And that's happening right now.
Next up is Adam Miller with CBC.
My question, How effective do you think the VA one by valen vaccines will be against transmission, particularly, of the dominant view for VA, five variants? You know, in the real world based on the available data, you see,
we do not know what the real world impact is, because that wasn't is not available. We, in the Madonna vaccine, we know from the clinical information of the people vaccinated in the clinical trials, that the neutralizing antibody boosts is quite significant. Certainly, it's, it's the level of the neutralizing antibodies boosted against the original strain BA, one, b two, B four and five. So that's a good range of coverage. It is possible that as more data becomes available, we'll see some difference between these these different types of updated vaccines, but we don't have that yet. But I think you brought up a really good point in that, what they may in fact, boost is them with the level of neutralizing antibodies is the protection at least for a period of time, maybe through the four months of protection against infection and transmission, so that we hope to see will be boosted.
Okay, and thanks for that. And my follow up question is, you know, I asked Dr. New this morning, what our plan is moving forward with these vaccines. I guess my question for you is what will happen with the original COVID vaccines? When Canada switches over to these violence by VLAN? vaccines? Are they going to expire? Will they still have some use in the future? And yeah, what exactly are we going to see, you know, happen with these original vaccines?
So I'd say that first minister to do so. Yes. So I think the National Advisory Committee on Immunization essentially is advising that the new by valen booster is provided to people 18 Plus, and also 12 to 17 years if they're high risk medical conditions. I think that with the quite a large supply of vaccines coming on board in September, that's which will occur throughout this month. So it is important to minimize wastage. And as much as possible, if we don't need the vaccine, of course, not to acquire more of it, and to be able to provide it if it's useful to others. But it does mean that some of them are less likely won't be used. And but we do still have to minimize any potential wastage.
And I would add to that very briefly that not avoiding as much as possible waste is clearly a key objective. At the same time, we want to be certain that Canadians have access the best vaccines possible. I spoke earlier about the potential and hopefully probable impact on hospitalization that our vaccination campaign in the fall may have. Just to give you a number, on average, some hospitalizations, you the COVID-19 cost about $23,000. But the $3,000 is obviously a lot a lot of money. But in addition to that know, our health care system and our health care workers are burdened with with COVID-19 in any other issue. So vaccination has been key and will remain a key tool in protecting Canadians. So although we will at all costs, avoid wastage, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the best possible vaccines so they can protect themselves and protect others.
We've got seven minutes we'll try to get as many as we can. Next up is Alex Boyd with the Toronto Star.
Hi there. Thanks for taking questions.
We've heard a lot today obviously about having to keep our vaccines updated as we go Ontario scrapping their isolation policy. These are signs that we are now treating the pandemic Morris endemic and if so how that changes the management approach at the federal level. Could we see some of these restrictions begin to phase out federally as well? up.
There are two components to that. First, whether COVID-19 is becoming endemic and altered. We'll turn to that to Dr. Tam. And second, what for more policies could be changed at the federal level on that second point, as you've seen over the last few months, and as you will see, over the next few weeks, depending on the situation, we'll always adjust our policies based on what we know, but also on the Prudential approach to the management of COVID-19, which has helped save 10s of 1000s of lies and hundreds of 1000s of hospitalizations compared to what we would have seen had the pandemic been managed differently based on the science by the introduction.
Yes, I mean, I think there's lots of ways that people want to define one and then next day does and some of it includes what is it now getting into a more predictable pattern? Is the level the reproduction number, just hovering around one, there's all these different kinds of ways of thinking about it. And is it more manageable, but I think I would prefer to think about as the certainly ongoing management of this virus is not leaving the human population anytime soon. I, the summer wave tells us that it's not entirely predictable, you know, we can't just say we expect it every year in this period of time in the winter, and prepare for that kind of ongoing management, it may settle down, I think it would be nice to have another look at that after this for. And then, of course, the next ones will let us know whether the virus is becoming more predictable. At the same time as moving towards that state of ongoing management, some of it is not really scientific is about how to get everyone in Canada into thinking about managing to deal with the virus and indeed other viruses by taking up regular habits. So regularly updating the vaccine regularly wearing a mask as needed, based on viral activities in the community, these personal protective habits is what we would want to develop. And, and we can we, again, reinforced that over the fall and winter months.
Thank you. Hi, next up is Karen McKinley from the Brandon fun.
Hello, good afternoon. And actually this is more about fourth dose. We're talking a lot about boosters. But in terms of Manitoba, they weren't back in July, they said they were not going to open up the eligibility for fourth dose until the by valence vaccine may or may not become available now that it's here. We're still waiting on word if they're going to open up eligibility. But just considering all the messaging, we've heard about getting your booster as quickly as possible, does that apply to also people who have made it more than six months for their fourth dose? Or should they be taking the advice of Dr. roussin? And maybe waiting until those who say are immunocompromised? get theirs?
Thank you for that question. And so the Massey advise which has been really simplified, I would say and it's been great is that if you haven't had a dose in six months, you should get another one. And the by valen vaccine will be quite available, I mean, in very reasonable amounts within the month of September. And in the meantime, of course if if you offered the current booster, you can still take that. But within the month of September there should be good supply of the by Vaillant vaccine for the provinces and territories. And Massey doesn't take into account how many previous booster you've had is that interval. And if you it's been longer than six months, then go and get a boost.
Okay, thanks for that. And because it was the reasoning, then it was because of large for those campaign could have delayed the receipt of a better vaccine. Now, with this vaccine coming you're saying that no matter what the by Vaillant will be available to all provinces that want it.
That's correct. And it will be as usual distributed in a as a matter of principle or sort of per capital approach. And but also the rate at which that vaccine is being consumed will also be taken to account given that we don't want any big wastage but may Be I'm just trying to understand your question a little bit better. But some people I think were worried that well, if I just got my those in July, you know, can I get another by Valen? Those and people worried about well should Shouldn't we oh, wait until the by valen vaccines available. And I think Massey also, you know, get give that flexibility to the provinces and territories. So that the interval can be three months. Like if you're high res you got your three months ago and the VI valen vaccines available? You don't you shouldn't be necessarily denying that those you can have that flexibility.
That was Thank you.
Thank you. We've got one more question on the line. I don't know if the minister has a moment for one more question. I'm going to open up the line. For one question. No follow up for Stephanie Dubois from CBC Edmonton.
Hi there, I would just my question is for Mr. decloak, since the procurement minister is in here, but I'm wondering if there was an additional cost to Canada to have the 6 million doses of modernity original vaccine converted to be a one baby only vaccine that was announced today?
Well, to be certain, you've got that you deserve to have that the right information you will need it will help you speak to my new colleague at VSDC. She will know exactly the procurement process however, but I can tell you a lot of times salary or he had we have had a lot of flexibility in the use of the procurement contracts that we have signed. So I expect that flexibility also to be shared with you when you speak to her office.
Thank you, Minister and thank you to the doctors for joining us today. We really appreciate you taking our questions.
Thank you very much for your great work and and everyone have a good day.
