Provinces look to ease restrictions as COVID-19 vaccination campaign continues

Canada’s deputy chief public health officer says the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign continues to soar.

Dr. Howard Njoo says more than 55 per cent of eligible adults have been vaccinated at least once.

Meanwhile, advice on whether provinces can mix and match vaccine types should be ready in the first week of June.

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With vaccination numbers on the rise, several provinces including Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan have released reopening strategies.

New modelling for Ontario shows that vaccination efforts, along with a stay-at-home order, are working to slow the spread of the virus.

On Thursday Premier Doug Ford announced his government’s three-step plan to re-open based on vaccination rates and other indicators starting in mid-June.

Though medical experts advising the government still warn that people must remain cautious as measures are eased.

Health Canada says as of May 13, 740 fully vaccinated people have contracted COVID-19.

It also says 13,461 who had received their first dose were infected.

The statistics come from nine provinces that submitted data.

It takes about 14-days after the first dose, and seven-days after the second dose for the immunity it confers to take effect.

Health Canada says 443 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, two-weeks or more after they got their first dose, and 95 people in that group died.

Thirty-two were hospitalized at least a week after getting their second dose, and 13 people died.