Facing a fall COVID surge, Tam calls on Canadians to get their bivalent booster shots – CBC

Tam says public health measures help ‘buy time’ when Canada’s health care system is under strain

Oct 18, 2022

Canada’s chief public health officer said Tuesday that Canadians should get their dose of a recently authorized bivalent vaccine to stave off a fall resurgence of COVID-19 — a development that could prompt the return of some pandemic-related restrictions.

At an appearance before MPs on the Commons health committee, Dr. Theresa Tam said the decision to restore COVID measures — such as mandatory masking and school closures — will fall largely to the provinces and territories.

The federal government did away with its pandemic-related border measures earlier this month, but warned that they could return if the pandemic situation deteriorates.

Tam defended the past use of these measures under questioning from the Opposition Conservatives Tuesday.

She said the U.S. has seen three times more COVID-related deaths per capita than Canada because it took a more permissive approach to the virus.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tam-bivalent-shots-fall-resurgence-1.6620555