Amid calls to present a comprehensive border reopening plan before thinking about calling a federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that it’s going to be “quite a while” yet before Canada is ready to welcome in any tourists who are unvaccinated.In response to a question from CTV News about when the tourism sector could start accepting vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers from abroad, Trudeau said: “I can tell you right now that's not going to happen for quite a while.”“We need to continue to ensure that the safety of Canadians, of all the sacrifices that so many people have...…Amid calls to present a comprehensive border reopening plan before thinking about calling a federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that it’s going to be “quite a while” yet before Canada is ready to welcome in any tourists who are unvaccinated.In response to a question from CTV News about when the tourism sector could start accepting vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers from abroad, Trudeau said: “I can tell you right now that's not going to happen for quite a while.”“We need to continue to ensure that the safety of Canadians, of all the sacrifices that so many people have...WW…

OTTAWA --Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.“I am very excited,” Trudeau said, going first to get his shot, which went into his left arm where he has a Haida raven tattoo. Seconds later, Trudeau offered an enthusiastic “yay” with two thumbs up before it was his wife’s turn.Ahead of their vaccines, which were administered at a local pharmacy not far from Parliament Hill, Trudeau said the pair was “looking forward” to it.“If you’re eligible for your vaccine like we are, make sure you get...…OTTAWA --Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.“I am very excited,” Trudeau said, going first to get his shot, which went into his left arm where he has a Haida raven tattoo. Seconds later, Trudeau offered an enthusiastic “yay” with two thumbs up before it was his wife’s turn.Ahead of their vaccines, which were administered at a local pharmacy not far from Parliament Hill, Trudeau said the pair was “looking forward” to it.“If you’re eligible for your vaccine like we are, make sure you get...WW…

OTTAWA --Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.“I am very excited,” Trudeau said, going first to get his shot, which went into his left arm where he has a Haida raven tattoo. Seconds later, Trudeau offered an enthusiastic “yay” with two thumbs up before it was his wife’s turn.Ahead of their vaccines, which were administered at a local pharmacy not far from Parliament Hill, Trudeau said the pair was “looking forward” to it.“If you’re eligible for your vaccine like we are, make sure you get...…OTTAWA --Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.“I am very excited,” Trudeau said, going first to get his shot, which went into his left arm where he has a Haida raven tattoo. Seconds later, Trudeau offered an enthusiastic “yay” with two thumbs up before it was his wife’s turn.Ahead of their vaccines, which were administered at a local pharmacy not far from Parliament Hill, Trudeau said the pair was “looking forward” to it.“If you’re eligible for your vaccine like we are, make sure you get...WW…

OTTAWA --The dose-sharing deal with the United States has been finalized, and those 1.5 million shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine are set to arrive next week, Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin announced Thursday.Nearing the end of the first quarter and factoring in the scheduled deliveries for next week, Canada is on track to hit and possibly considerably exceed the total target of eight million COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered by the end of March, depending when next week these U.S. doses land.“Public Service and Procurement Canada has recently negotiated the delivery of 1.5 million doses from the...…OTTAWA --The dose-sharing deal with the United States has been finalized, and those 1.5 million shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine are set to arrive next week, Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin announced Thursday.Nearing the end of the first quarter and factoring in the scheduled deliveries for next week, Canada is on track to hit and possibly considerably exceed the total target of eight million COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered by the end of March, depending when next week these U.S. doses land.“Public Service and Procurement Canada has recently negotiated the delivery of 1.5 million doses from the...WW…

OTTAWA --As countries continue to vaccinate larger segments of their populations, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says that discussions about introducing some form of vaccine passport are “very live” among the G7 countries.“We're certainly working on the idea of vaccine passports with our G7 partners. I was on a call with my G7 health minister counterparts just a couple of weeks ago, and that is a very live issue,” Hajdu said in an interview on CTV’s Question Period.While Hajdu wouldn’t say if it’s an idea Canada is pushing for—requiring some form of proof of vaccination to travel to...…OTTAWA --As countries continue to vaccinate larger segments of their populations, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says that discussions about introducing some form of vaccine passport are “very live” among the G7 countries.“We're certainly working on the idea of vaccine passports with our G7 partners. I was on a call with my G7 health minister counterparts just a couple of weeks ago, and that is a very live issue,” Hajdu said in an interview on CTV’s Question Period.While Hajdu wouldn’t say if it’s an idea Canada is pushing for—requiring some form of proof of vaccination to travel to...WW…

OTTAWA --The federal government has released an updated COVID-19 vaccination timeline, showing that at least 14.5 million Canadians will be able to be immunized by the end of June with the approved Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna shots.Both of these currently approved vaccines require a two-dose regimen and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s timeline indicates that these figures are based on each person receiving both their first and second shots.The number of Canadians able to be vaccinated in that timeframe will increase considerably, should additional vaccine candidates be given the green...…OTTAWA --The federal government has released an updated COVID-19 vaccination timeline, showing that at least 14.5 million Canadians will be able to be immunized by the end of June with the approved Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna shots.Both of these currently approved vaccines require a two-dose regimen and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s timeline indicates that these figures are based on each person receiving both their first and second shots.The number of Canadians able to be vaccinated in that timeframe will increase considerably, should additional vaccine candidates be given the green...WW…

OTTAWA --Health Canada has issued a label change authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, allowing administrators to draw one more dose from each vial than previously advised.That means that going forward Canadian health-care professionals who are giving the shots will be able to extract six rather than five doses per vial, an update from what was authorized when the vaccine was first given the green light in December 2020.This comes after a scientific review done by the agency of data submitted by Pfizer, demonstrating that six doses could safely and accurately be extracted...…OTTAWA --Health Canada has issued a label change authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, allowing administrators to draw one more dose from each vial than previously advised.That means that going forward Canadian health-care professionals who are giving the shots will be able to extract six rather than five doses per vial, an update from what was authorized when the vaccine was first given the green light in December 2020.This comes after a scientific review done by the agency of data submitted by Pfizer, demonstrating that six doses could safely and accurately be extracted...WW…

OTTAWA --While critics of Canada’s vaccine rollout continue to point to the more accelerated COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci says he isn’t planning on American life getting back to some semblance of normality any earlier than Canadian officials are aiming for.In an exclusive interview with Evan Solomon on CTV’s Question Period, the director of the United States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that on the current timeline for immunizations in that country, he isn’t expecting life to start looking as it did pre-COVID-19 until the...…OTTAWA --While critics of Canada’s vaccine rollout continue to point to the more accelerated COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci says he isn’t planning on American life getting back to some semblance of normality any earlier than Canadian officials are aiming for.In an exclusive interview with Evan Solomon on CTV’s Question Period, the director of the United States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that on the current timeline for immunizations in that country, he isn’t expecting life to start looking as it did pre-COVID-19 until the...WW…

OTTAWA --Canada has exercised an option with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer-BioNTech to secure an additional 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, with the first deliveries of some of these doses expected in April at the earliest.“We are looking at seeing those doses arrive in April or May I believe,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday during his Rideau Cottage address. “We’re going to continue working to see if we can get a few more doses, because all Canadians want this to move forward as quickly as possible.” The federal government had already secured 20 million Pfizer...…OTTAWA --Canada has exercised an option with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer-BioNTech to secure an additional 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, with the first deliveries of some of these doses expected in April at the earliest.“We are looking at seeing those doses arrive in April or May I believe,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday during his Rideau Cottage address. “We’re going to continue working to see if we can get a few more doses, because all Canadians want this to move forward as quickly as possible.” The federal government had already secured 20 million Pfizer...WW…

OTTAWA --Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a deal has been struck with Novavax to produce its COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, but the pharmaceutical company isn’t expected to be ready to roll out doses domestically until the fall at the earliest.The federal government has signed a “memorandum of understanding” with Novavax to pursue options to produce its COVID-19 vaccine at a new Montreal facility that is under construction.While the prime minister is calling this a “major step forward,” it could be months before this potential first made-in-Canada vaccine candidate is approved, let alone...…OTTAWA --Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a deal has been struck with Novavax to produce its COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, but the pharmaceutical company isn’t expected to be ready to roll out doses domestically until the fall at the earliest.The federal government has signed a “memorandum of understanding” with Novavax to pursue options to produce its COVID-19 vaccine at a new Montreal facility that is under construction.While the prime minister is calling this a “major step forward,” it could be months before this potential first made-in-Canada vaccine candidate is approved, let alone...WW…