The new vaccination campaign started Monday in CHSLDs and RPAs announces a “crucial” stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, before a potential eighth wave breaks out. At a time when a new vaccine adapted to Omicron could soon arrive in Canada, experts are calling on Quebec to “clarify its messages” as much as possible.
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“It will take very agile coordination of public health messages, which unfortunately we have not always seen in the past. People should still go get vaccinated with the current vaccine, which is still very good, ”says the Dr André Veillette, researcher at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM).
At the beginning of August, on receiving his fourth dose, Prime Minister François Legault had indicated that his government would soon give more details on the continuation of the vaccination campaign. A press briefing on the subject is scheduled for Tuesday in Quebec City, in the company of François Legault and the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé.
Several factors remain unknown for the moment: what exactly will the eighth wave look like? How many people will want to be vaccinated before the fall? And above all, when will the new “Omicron vaccine” arrive? On Monday, the United Kingdom announced that it had approved Moderna’s next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, targeting the Omicron variant, a world first.
“We will see when we have this new vaccine, but until then, the government really needs to insist on the virtues and effectiveness of the current vaccine. It remains effective, ”says Professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal (ESPUM), Roxane Borgès Da Silva.
There is information and awareness work to be done. And I hope they will do it seriously, because we don’t know what awaits us.
Roxane Borgès Da Silva, professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal
Mme Borgès Da Silva says that waiting for the arrival of the “Omicron vaccine” represents “a risk” of spreading the disease further, in the context. “It is always better to apply the precautionary principle in public health, so to prepare for the worst, always hoping for the best,” said the professor.
The teacher points out that a new variant, distinct from the Omicron family, could still emerge.
Back to school: an accelerator?
Alain Lamarre, professor specializing in immunology and virology at the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS), agrees. However, he predicts that the start of the school year could convince many Quebecers to roll up their sleeves again.
Of course it won’t be easy, but the fact that the start of the school year is coming could play a role, ”explains the specialist.
We know that you have to plan ahead to achieve maximum protection, so plan ahead. And overall, if it’s been five months since you’ve been vaccinated, it’s time.
Alain Lamarre, professor specializing in immunology and virology at the National Institute for Scientific Research
He recalls that neither Ottawa nor Quebec have left any indication that the approval of a new vaccine adapted to the Omicron variant would take place this fall. “Under these conditions, we have to say to ourselves: one in yours is better than two in you. In other words, you should not wait to be in a wave to get vaccinated. Once there, it is already too late,” adds Mr. Lamarre.
That said, “we can think that Health Canada will soon approve this new vaccine”, believes André Veillette, even if he also calls on Quebecers to “not necessarily wait for it”. “The major question is going to be how it will be available, and especially in how many doses it will arrive. It will take enough, and it will have to happen at the right time, ”he explains.
At the Ministry of Health and Social Services, we assure that we are ready. “The bivalent vaccine could be made available during the current campaign. The latter can be distributed quickly, if necessary, explains its spokesperson Robert Maranda. Québec is closely monitoring developments in the situation and communicates frequently with the federal government to this effect. At this time, no information is available regarding the approval process. »
A meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), however, is scheduled for August 25, he adds. “Quebec will make sure to order its share of the bivalent vaccine as soon as it becomes available,” concludes Mr. Maranda.
Brief overview
The 713 new cases reported on Monday bring the seven-day moving average to 1,014, a figure that has been on a downward trend for the past few weeks. Quebec also reported a drop of seven hospitalizations. At this time, 1993 patients are hospitalized, of which 57 are in intensive care. The proportion of PCR screening tests proving positive for the coronavirus is currently 8.7%. Finally, there were three additional deaths associated with the virus, for a total of 16,129. In terms of vaccination, 3,119 additional doses were administered, the majority of which are fourth doses. The number of workers absent due to COVID-19 is also down sharply. On Monday, only 3,457 had to isolate themselves.
Henri Ouellette-Vezina, The Press