Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urging Canadians to get their┬аinfluenza┬аand COVID-19 vaccines soon to avoid the need for additional health measures this winter.
Speaking at an announcement in Kanata, Ont.┬аon┬аMonday, Trudeau encouraged Canadians to ensure they┬аreceive┬аthe full complement of COVID-19┬аand seasonal┬аflu vaccines.
“If we are able to get a high enough of level of vaccination, we reduce the danger of having to take other health measures to┬аmake sure that we’re all safe and not overloading our hospitals,” Trudeau┬аsaid.
His remarks came┬аas health officials express┬аconcerns over recent┬аupward trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr.┬аKieran Moore┬аsaid last week that┬аhe’ll recommend the return of mask mandates if┬аthe province’s┬аhealth care system becomes too strained.
In much of the country, emergency rooms are hovering┬аabove full capacity.
COVID-19┬аvaccinations stall, high flu circulation expected
The share┬аof the population that has┬аreceived the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine тАФ┬аone or two doses, depending on the product┬атАФ┬аhas levelled out at around 80 per cent since February. About 49 per cent of Canadians┬аhave received the primary series and one additional booster.
Ontario opened appointments Monday for everyone aged 12 and over to receive Omicron-targeted vaccine doses. Earlier this month, Health┬аCanada approved an┬аupdated Pfizer BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine┬аthat targets the most common variants of the virus currently in┬аthe country.
“There are new formulations that cover both Omicron and the original strain of COVID,” Trudeau said. “We encourage everyone to get those vaccinations to keep pressure off of our hospitals, off our frontline heroes who are working so hard to keep people safe, but also to┬аkeep pressure┬аoff of our economy and our communities.”
In a statement released earlier this month, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization┬аissued a┬а“strong” recommendation that everyone aged 12 and older be offered a fall COVID-19 booster dose, regardless of the number of booster doses previously received.
The committee also said its “preferred” product for booster doses is a bivalent Omicron-containing mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
With cold weather approaching, relatively low┬аflu circulation┬аover the last two years puts children at a greater risk than usual of catching the illness,┬аinfectious disease experts have told CBC.
