National

Delta moves goalposts on COVID-19 herd immunity

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Oct, 2021 12:39 PM

OTTAWA - Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer, says the Delta variant is moving the goalposts on the rate of vaccination to reach herd immunity from COVID-19.

Tam has previously said she would like to see all age groups at least 80 per cent fully vaccinated as soon as possible to fight the surge in COVID-19 cases.

She says today the very contagious Delta variant demands even higher vaccination rates to provide community protection from the virus.

Tam suggests vaccination coverage may now need to be 80 per cent for the whole population, as opposed to just those who qualify for the vaccine.

The magic number will be different for each community based on how many people in the area have already contracted the virus and the density of the population.

Tam says Canada should aim for the highest number of vaccinated people possible.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Homeless bump coming in wake of pandemic: report

One reason for the delay is that people in need will first max out government supports before exhausting their savings.

Homeless bump coming in wake of pandemic: report

Man charged after targeting women in parking lot

Police say in a news release that they responded to an assault call at Southgate Centre Tuesday afternoon.

Man charged after targeting women in parking lot

One missed signal light, one more dangerous weapon removed from the street.

Benjamin James Gilleland, a 35-year-old resident of Surrey, was held in custody to be brought before a judge on the outstanding warrant, while the other two occupants were released at the scene.

One missed signal light, one more dangerous weapon removed from the street.

B.C. long-term care workers vaccinated next week

Up to 400,000 B.C. residents can get a shot in the arm by the end of March. Dr. Henry says prioritizing those who work at care homes will protect the elderly, who can't travel to sites where the vaccine must be administered because it needs to be kept at a very cold temperature.

B.C. long-term care workers vaccinated next week

Lines drawn for first ministers' health meeting

First ministers are scheduled to meet via conference call Thursday — a long-awaited meeting that was supposed to be devoted to the premiers' unanimous call for a big increase in the annual federal transfer to provinces and territories for health care.

Lines drawn for first ministers' health meeting

U.S. takes fresh aim at Canada's dairy farmers

The U.S. has made an official request for consultations to address Canada's limits on a variety of dairy products — an initial step in the first enforcement action under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement since the deal took effect in July.