Saturday, June 13, 2026
ADVT 
National

B.C. set to unveil second COVID immunization phase

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Jan, 2021 05:57 PM
  • B.C. set to unveil second COVID immunization phase

Health officials have called off the regular COVID-19 briefing in British Columbia as they prepare to update the province's strategy for immunization against the virus.

An advisory from the premier's office says the briefing by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix is cancelled.

Instead they will join a news conference Friday with Premier John Horgan and Dr. Penny Ballem, who is leading B.C.'s COVID-19 immunization rollout.

The four are expected to comment on the next steps in the immunization program that has been complicated by a hiccup in vaccine supply from Pfizer-BioNTech.

Nearly 31,000 doses of vaccine the province expected by Jan. 29 could be curtailed due to production issues.

Two doses of the vaccine are needed to ensure immunity from the virus that causes COVID-19 and Dix said Tuesday that B.C. was set to begin delivery of second doses and remains committed to ensuring all those who have had the first shot get a second within 35 days.

In a joint statement Wednesday, Dix and Henry confirmed 98,125 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have already been administered.

MORE National ARTICLES

COVID-19 latest hurdle in Canada's long road to buying new fighter jets

COVID-19 latest hurdle in Canada's long road to buying new fighter jets
COVID-19 is presenting another challenge to Canada's long-running and tumultuous effort to buy new fighter jets. The federal government last summer launched a long-awaited competition to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force's aging CF-18s with 88 new fighter jets at an estimated cost of $19 billion.

COVID-19 latest hurdle in Canada's long road to buying new fighter jets

Feds pledge $350M to help charities plug holes in funding

Feds pledge $350M to help charities plug holes in funding
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government plans to provide $350 million to Canada's charities sector. Charities have seen a severe drop in donations since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, with donors hurting financially themselves and the charities unable to hold fundraising events.    

Feds pledge $350M to help charities plug holes in funding

Canadians trust their family doctor more than the PM on COVID-19, says poll

Canadians trust their family doctor more than the PM on COVID-19, says poll
Canadians trust health professionals like their family doctor first and foremost when it comes to the COVID-19 crisis, a new poll suggests. The poll, conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, asked respondents to rate their level of trust in various institutions, including public health officials and politicians.

Canadians trust their family doctor more than the PM on COVID-19, says poll

Two planes from China forced to arrive in Canada empty of supplies: PM

Two planes from China forced to arrive in Canada empty of supplies: PM
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says two planes from China were forced to return empty to Canada on Monday, without the protective medical equipment that they were sent there to pick up.

Two planes from China forced to arrive in Canada empty of supplies: PM

More deaths, no benefit from malaria drug in VA virus study

More deaths, no benefit from malaria drug in VA virus study
A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported.

More deaths, no benefit from malaria drug in VA virus study

Many B.C. businesses uncertain about reopening after COVID passes: survey

Many B.C. businesses uncertain about reopening after COVID passes: survey
A survey of more than 1,000 British Columbia businesses has found that nearly half of those which have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic believed they could survive for no longer than three more months. The BC Chamber of Commerce, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Business Council of B.C. and other partners worked with the Mustel group to survey 1,284 businesses in April.    

Many B.C. businesses uncertain about reopening after COVID passes: survey