Njoo discusses COVID-19 booster shotsĭuration 1:59 Dr. Howard Njoo, Tam's deputy, told a press conference Thursday. That gives us a better buffer for managing the COVID-19 situation,' Tam said. Shoot for higher, shoot for gold, shoot for the stars. 'Should we aim for higher? Yes, I think we should. The new variants may have rendered that target obsolete.

Anthony Fauci, the doctor leading the COVID-19 fight in the U.S., was among those who first suggested 'herd immunity' against the virus would develop at a 75 to 80 per cent vaccination rate. But it's not enough, she said, to simply hit the government's early target of 75 per cent of the eligible population with a single shot when the much more contagious delta variant - which appears to be twice as virulent as other strains - is circulating widely.ĭr. Thinking about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, but aren't quite sure? We want to talk to you for an upcoming story: Email us: Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said recently the vaccination campaign has produced impressive results. That means it would take months more to immunize the remaining holdouts at the current pace.

The challenge now involves easing access and convincing the hesitant among us to roll up their sleeves, experts say.Īfter a blitz in April and May, the number of new first doses being administered has stalled at well under 100,000 daily since June 16. The number of unvaccinated Canadians is roughly equivalent to everyone living in the Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Quebec City metropolitan areas combined.Įxperts agree more people need to get the shot to avoid another pandemic resurgence with devastating consequences. While that's a high number, it suggests there are still more than six million people over the age of 12 who have chosen to forgo a shot altogether, or wait for a later date. More than 79 per cent of those eligible for a shot have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Canada has gone from a vaccine laggard to a world leader in COVID-19 immunizations in just a few months' time - thanks to an ambitious vaccination campaign that has so far blunted the spread of the much more virulent delta variant.

Jumpstart fourth grade scary