VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered across the country, a new ranking shows Canada is lagging behind many other nations when it comes to just how fast we’re inoculating our population.
According to the Bloomberg vaccine tracker, Canada has slipped to 38th in the world when it comes to vaccination rates per 100 people.
As of the morning of Thursday, Feb. 11, Canada was ranked the 38th country by Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker based on vaccination rates per 100 people. (Courtesy Bloomberg)
If we include the European Union, Canada slips down by one more spot.
Countries ranked ahead of Canada include some of the nation’s closest allies, including the U.K. and the U.S., which are both in the top 10, as well as countries like Israel, which tops the list, and the United Arab Emirates.
While infectious diseases expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch says Canada could have done better in its efforts, he believes the situation will improve.
“I do appreciate it has been slow, that’s just a matter of accessing vaccinations. But it does appear, based on what we’re hearing, that we will meet our mid-term and longer-term goals, with the longer-term goal of having every Canadian vaccinated by the late summer of early fall of 2021,” he explains. “I still think that’s pretty reasonable.”
Federal officials have repeatedly said it’s expected the country will have enough vaccines for every Canadian who wants one to get a shot by the end of September.
This is despite recent delays in shipments from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna — the two approved COVID-19 vaccines in Canada at this time.
Bogoch notes the vaccines that we have received have largely been used to inoculate people who need it the most.
“We started vaccinations in mid-December of 2020. Yeah, it’s been slow, but we’ve targeted our highly vulnerable populations and it appears that the taps are really going to turn on in April,” he says.
Without the ability to produce vaccines domestically yet, Canada is dependent on foreign-based companies for its supply.
Bogoch points to the need to improve production capacity here, adding we simply don’t have the buying power of the U.S., the E.U., or the U.K.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in early February that Canada had signed a memorandum of understanding with Novavax to produce COVID-19 vaccines in Montreal. However, the new National Research Council biomanufacturing facility where this would happen is still under construction and Novavax’s vaccine candidate is still awaiting Health Canada approval.
The prime minister did not provide a timeline for when Canadians can expect domestic production to begin, only that it would start once the facility is completed.
While Trudeau said recent funding has accelerated construction, work is only expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“We’ve relied on foreign companies in foreign countries to produce and ship [vaccines] to us. Our neighbour, our friendly neighbour, who can produce these locally is not shipping vaccines to us. So when you put this all in perspective, I think we have to just have a realistic conversation about what we were actually going to do in a situation like this and how we were going to do it,” Bogoch tells NEWS 1130. “And when you consider those aspects, I think we’re exactly where you’d expect us to be.”
OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.
The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.
The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.
Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.
Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.
The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette returned to the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a right middle finger fracture.
The move, retroactive to Wednesday, essentially ends an injury-plagued season for Bichette.
He had two hits and one RBI in a 13-8 loss to Texas on Tuesday in his return from a 52-game stint on the IL with a right calf strain.
Bichette also missed nine games due to the calf issue in June.
His latest injury was suffered Wednesday during infield practice. Bichette was a late scratch in a 2-0 loss to the Rangers.
Bichette hit four homers with 31 RBIs in 81 games this season. He posted a .225 batting average and a .322 slugging percentage.
The Blue Jays also recalled outfielder Jonatan Clase from Triple-A Buffalo. He was active for the series finale against the Rangers on Thursday afternoon, the team said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Falcons wide receiver Drake London was penalized after catching a touchdown pass in the final minute of Atlanta’s 22-21 victory in Philadelphia on Monday night for pretending to shoot in the air, a violation of a longstanding NFL rule that prohibits violent gestures.
London immediately apologized on the sideline, according to Falcons coach Raheem Morris, and did it publicly on Wednesday.
“There’s a lot of stuff going around in the world with gun violence that I don’t think I should have displayed there,” London told reporters. “So, I’m not too happy with it, and (you) probably won’t see that again from me.”
The NFL has strict rules for celebrations and players are reminded annually that violations will result in unsportsmanlike penalties.
London’s 7-yard TD catch on a pass from Kirk Cousins tied the score at 21-21. His penalty pushed the extra point back 15 yards but Younghoe Koo made it from 48 yards out to give Atlanta a lead and Jessie Bates intercepted Jalen Hurts’ pass on the ensuing drive to seal the victory.
“We approach player celebrations as expressions of exuberance that are part of the excitement of the game. Rules were modified in 2017 that permitted group celebrations, including choregraphed demonstrations. Offensive demonstrations, celebrations that are prolonged and delay the game, and those directed at an opponent are still penalized,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Players are reminded annually and it’s part of the player manual that demonstrations that constitute taunting or unsportsmanlike conduct, or delays the game, will result in a foul against his team.
“Also prohibited acts that occur anywhere on the field or sideline include longtime prohibitions against throat slash; machine gun salute; sexually suggestive gestures; or stomping or demonstrations on a team logo.”
London’s celebration came 12 days after four people were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia. The Falcons hosted the school’s football team at their practice facility last week.
