QUESTION PERIOD — Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
March 26, 2021
Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader in the Senate.
Senator Gold, variant cases are making up a higher proportion of all new cases during our third wave of COVID-19 here in Ontario. Last Monday, Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Mona Nemer, said that studies have shown that extending the interval between doses has had a negative effect on their efficacy.
Given that we have not had enough supply to get people vaccinated fast enough to stay ahead of the variants, which are quickly taking hold here in Canada — and I just heard your response to Senator Plett where you said it is a provincial issue. In conversations with my provincial colleagues, they have indicated to me that they do not have enough supply of vaccines.
Given that medical professionals around the world warned that delaying the second dose may not protect recipients from variants, why is the government putting lives at risk by delaying the second dose by four months? My understanding is we’re the only country in the world that’s doing that.
Thank you for the question, honourable senator. However, I cannot accept the premise that Canada is putting Canadians’ lives at risk.
First, as I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion, Canada’s approach to the securing of vaccines has resulted in the highest number per capita of vaccines ordered in the world. Indeed, as the government has announced — the Minister of Procurement most recently — Canada continues to get increasing numbers of doses and vaccines, and will continue to do so. Most recently, an additional 1.5 million through an agreement finalized with the U.S. government.
The fact remains that the decisions to extend the time between doses are decisions that are within the jurisdiction of your government in Ontario, mine in Quebec and in all provincial and territorial governments.
We are on track in Canada to receive sufficient vaccines so that every Canadian who wishes to have one will have it long before the time that the government announced earlier. With every passing week, the merits of the multi-pronged and multi-faceted approach to vaccine procurement are proving valid, and that is good news for Canadians.
Senator Gold, thank you for your response. I know we have bought the most vaccines, but buying them and having them on hand are two different things. I know that the provincial governments are struggling to get enough vaccines.
When I spoke to some of my doctor friends last week, they informed me that they were not consulted on the consequences of delaying the second dose.
Senator Gold, will Canadians who receive the second dose four months later, after the first dose, require a booster shot?
Honourable senator, thank you for your question. Although I do my best, given my role, to answer questions on the broadest range of subjects, and it’s my privilege to serve in this role, I will not purport to answer a medical question. I have no expertise in that regard.
What I can tell you and assure this chamber and Canadians is that the science, as it’s evolving, the advice that is continuing to be given to governments, is being taken seriously. As the experience with the various vaccines that we’ve approved in Canada is accumulated, both in Canada and in the world, and the efficacy of the vaccines to the emerging number of variants that we are plagued with, those decisions will be made by both the scientific communities and ultimately governments as to how to best protect Canadians in the months to come.
