Canada’s demand for COVID-19 vaccines is slowly dropping, experts say, and they warn that those waiting to see whether cases spike before getting their jabs are wasting time the body needs to build sufficient immunity.
Less than one per cent of Canadians were vaccinated per day over the last week, a decrease from the record-high daily rate of 1.44 at the end of June, according to Our World in Data, which is supported by a research team based at the University of Oxford.
A vaccine tracker created by a University of Saskatchewan student also shows daily average first doses have dropped to fewer than 40,000 from roughly 96,000 a month ago.
A drop is to be expected, since 80 per cent of the eligible population already has at least one dose and close to 60 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Canada’s vaccine uptake and rate of vaccination is still among the highest in the world — France is vaccinating 0.92 per cent of its population per day while the United Kingdom is at 0.34.
Concern over variant spread
But Kelly Grindrod, a pharmacy professor at the University of Waterloo, says a slowing rate is concerning, and the spread of new variants means more Canadians need to be fully protected to mitigate future outbreaks.
Grindrod pointed to countries with high vaccine uptake, including the U.K. and the Netherlands, that are seeing new infection waves, largely hitting unvaccinated populations.
“We’re in a very difficult stage of apathy, where people don’t think they’re at risk,” Grindrod said. “But … there’s a real concern that if you wait until the numbers go up to get vaccinated, it’s too late.”
WATCH | Canada needs to increase COVID-19 vaccinations, experts say:
Canada has edged ahead of the U.S. for per capita COVID-19 vaccinations, but experts warn the uptake needs to increase for better community protection. 1:59
Some Canadians wary of Moderna, mixing doses
Grindrod said some of the slowdown might have to do with people delaying second doses when offered a Moderna shot, preferring to wait for Pfizer-BioNTech instead.
Even waiting a few days delays protection, Grindrod said, as immune systems require two weeks after a second dose to build optimal levels of antibodies. Anyone still waiting for their first jab must wait another four weeks for their second dose, putting themselves at an even greater disadvantage.
Concern over mixing Pfizer and Moderna shots appears to be driving some hesitancy, she said. Though experts have repeatedly said the two mRNA jabs are interchangeable, there is still confusion.
Mixing mRNA vaccines became more widespread in Canada last month, when delayed Pfizer shipments coincided with an influx of Moderna doses.
Toronto pharmacist Kyro Maseh said he and his colleagues have a harder time moving Moderna vaccines, and he fears a preference for Pfizer will result in large amounts of wastage.
“I’m about to throw out 350 doses of Moderna,” he said. “Another country would gladly take that off our hands.”
Maseh said part of the issue is that each Moderna vial contains 14 doses, compared to Pfizer’s six. Once a vial is punctured, its contents need to be used within 24 hours. Vials that are thawed from their freezing temperatures need to be used within a month.
The problem isn’t that Canada is receiving too many doses now, he said, but that messaging over mixing vaccines has hit roadblocks in recent days.
Last week, a World Health Organization official warned of individuals seeking out different vaccines on their own for third or fourth doses, a quote that was taken out of context to suggest mixing doses wasn’t advised.
Grindrod said colleagues recounted seeing people reading and sharing the story with others while in line at a mass vaccine clinic in Cambridge, Ont., — and then walking out.
People wait in line outside Canada Place for their COVID-19 vaccination in Vancouver on Monday, June 21, 2021. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Concerns over international travel
Travel concerns could also be a factor.
A story last week about Barbados not recognizing Canada’s mixed-dose strategy prompted more hesitation, Grindrod said, even though the Caribbean country quickly reversed its policy.
Norwegian Cruise Line said on its website that vessels embarking and disembarking from U.S. ports won’t accept mixed vaccination, though ships from non-U.S. ports will.
“It doesn’t take much for people to delay (their second doses) and that’s a real concern,” Grindrod said. “People are thinking very far into the future about travel, and that’s another way of saying they don’t believe they’re at risk right now.”
Celia Du, a science communications specialist in Toronto, said debunking negative perceptions about mixed doses can be difficult once they’re ingrained.
Experts can get bogged down in scientific language and lose peoples’ attention, she said, so it’s often the quick and simple headlines — even if misleading — that people tend to remember.
“Finding ways to make the truth short and sweet is always a good strategy,” she said.
Maseh said people who delay vaccination now, as restrictions lift and travel resumes, risk being vulnerable at a time when COVID-19 could soon rise.
He also said the lack of vaccine access in other parts of the world is troubling. And while Canada is doing well to keep COVID-19 at bay now, Maseh said the threat of new variants developing and spreading could spell trouble.
“By taking perfectly good vaccines and tossing them in the trash, you’re shooting yourself in the foot down the road.”
The Vancouver Canucks have signed Finnish goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a one-year contract.
The 29-year-old, whose deal is worth US$875,000, appeared in 24 games last season for the Nashville Predators.
Lankinen posted a record of 11-6-0, a 2.82 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and one shutout.
“Kevin is an experienced NHL player who will add to our depth in goal,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said Saturday in a statement.
“He had a solid season last year in Nashville and has the size and skill set we like in a netminder. We look forward to getting him here to start working with our group.”
The six-foot-two, 190-pound Lankinen has appeared in 112 career NHL games with Chicago and Nashville for an overall record of 45-43-12, a 3.07 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage and three shutouts.
The goalie from Helsinki led Finland to a men’s world championship in 2019 with a 7-1-0 record, a g.a.a. of 1.50, a .942 save percentage and two shutouts.
He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Blackhawks in 2018.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2024.
“It was pretty deep,” Stewart said in an interview with the AP, pausing for a moment to regain her composure, about her loss. “I don’t think it ever got to the point where he could get on a transplant list or anything. I don’t know if I’ll be able to donate at some point, but just doing what I can to help spread the word.”
Stewart took part Saturday in an event in New York called NMDP Unite, which falls on the global celebration of World Marrow Donor Day. The event helped raise funds for NMDP’s patient assistance program and blood stem cell research initiatives.
She shook hands and posed for photos with the attendees and also took a swab to join the NMDP registry.
The Liberty star also recently met after a game with Brian Kevan, a New York firefighter who was at 9/11. Kevan had cancer and now is free of it thanks to a blood stem cell donation he received. The pair reconnected on Saturday at the event.
“It’s really inspirational and something I wanted to be a part of,” Stewart said. “He was a firefighter in 9/11, which is even more inspiring and incredible.”
Stewart said she was only seven years old on Sept. 11, but remembers vividly the emotions of the day.
“We were in school and we were supposed to watch something on TV that day, and all of a sudden, like, the teachers were just getting, like, really emotional.,” she recalled. “We couldn’t watch anything. We got sent home early, and I came home and my mom was on her on the couch crying, watching the news.”
Stewart also met that night after the Liberty game another cancer patient who attended UConn with her. That patient hasn’t required a transplant yet.
“Hopefully I can inspire them as they’re inspiring me and, you know, when you get this opportunity to meet people who are really fighting for their lives, it puts life into perspective,” Stewart said.
The Liberty forward said with the anniversary of her father-in-law’s death coming up it will be hard on their family.
“I’ll continue to get through it by helping others and this was one way,” she said.
OTTAWA – The Montreal Alouettes want to give themselves every advantage heading down the stretch and Saturday’s 24-12 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks was a big step forward.
With the win the Alouettes (11-2-1) remain unbeaten on the road (6-0-1) and clinched a home playoff game. They were also the first team to beat Ottawa (8-5-1) at TD Place snapping their unbeaten home streak (6-1-1).
“A win’s a win, but sometimes when you say it’s a big game all week, I mean, they feel a little differently,” said Alouettes head coach Jason Maas. “As the season progresses there’s things that these games mean for us and, obviously, this one meant a lot for where we are in the standings.”
Maas pointed out the importance of being seven points up on second-place Ottawa and wanting the opportunity to play in front of their home fans in the post-season.
“We love to be able to do that, so it’s an accomplished goal.”
Ottawa was looking to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2018 but are now facing a two-game losing streak for the first time this season. Things could get even more difficult.
Already playing without a number of key starters, the Redblacks also lost starting quarterback Dru Brown, who aggravated an ankle injury late in the second quarter. They also lost wide receiver Eli Stove (knee), OL Drake Centers (shoulder), DB’s Ty Cranston (stinger in arm), Brandin Dandridge (knee) and Alonzo Addae (knee).
Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce didn’t use injuries as an excuse admitting his team made too many mistakes and took too many penalties — 11 for 137 yards.
“They certainly took advantage of our mistakes and didn’t make big enough ones on their end to cost them the game,” said Dyce. “So, I’m not going to take any credit away from Montreal. They’re a very good team, very well coached team, but on the opposite side of that, there’s things that if we play clean football, that we talk about playing, I believe the result would have been different.”
Brown was 8-for-16 for 69 yards with two interceptions before Jeremiah Masoli finished the game going 17-for-26 in passing for 218 yards and one touchdown.
Ottawa’s Lewis Ward kicked field goals from 18 and 46 yards.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 16 of 27 pass attempts for 226 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.
“This felt like a playoff game,” said Fajardo. “Our defence played incredible, our special teams played awesome and our offence did enough to win the football game. We’ve just got to clean some things up and I think we’re well on our way.”
Fajardo added that it was at a similar time last year that the team started getting hot and rode it into the playoffs and it’s time for a repeat performance.
Alouettes kicker Jose Maltos scored field goals from 17, 13 and 30 yards. A 30-yarder by Maltos midway through the fourth quarter stretched Montreal’s lead to a dozen points.
Ottawa finally found the red zone when Masoli connected with Justin Hardy on a 25-yard touchdown pass, but fell short on the two-point conversion to start the second half. It was Hardy’s fourth TD of the season for a career high.
“It’s frustrating,” admitted Masoli. “We put in a hard week of work and then come out and not play to our standard. It’s definitely frustrating because you see the guys putting in the effort and the want every day. We didn’t really show up for four quarters today. You know, we kind of dug ourselves a hole early on.”
The Redblacks trailed 20-6 at halftime.
Brown’s two early interceptions set the tone, with Montreal’s Dionte Ruffin returning one for a 79-yard touchdown. Brown was picked off again on his next drive.
Ottawa finally got down field, but settled for an 18-yard field goal to trail 7-3 after the first quarter.
Montreal then scored a punt single and Fajardo followed it up with a one-yard dash to score, followed by 17-yard field goal by Maltos.
Ward kicked a 46-yard field goal for Ottawa and Maltos countered from 13 yards in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Redblacks: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-7-1) next Saturday.
Alouettes: Visit the Toronto Argonauts (7-7) next Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2024.
