Why provinces and territories ‘jump the gun’ on Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine guidance – CBC

Vaccine advisory committee fails to release guidelines quickly and transparently, experts say

Oct 30, 2021

Canada’s vaccine advisory committee has given advice that’s repeatedly been proven right throughout the pandemic — in the face of limited data and vocal criticism — and saved lives.

But multiple medical experts say the failure to do so quickly and transparently threatens to undermine public confidence on key vaccine issues and forces provinces to make crucial decisions on their own.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released new guidelines on booster shots Friday — after weeks of deliberation — strongly recommending them for those over 80 and leaving the door open to others at risk of lowered vaccine protection.

But the NACI recommendations came after a handful of provinces and territories across Canada already announced their own plans for booster shots, calling into question the speed in which the committee can react to emerging evidence and issue national advice.

“It’s fair to say that NACI has come up with some excellent recommendations,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases physician and member of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine task force.

“But it would be very helpful to have these recommendations faster.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-boosters-covid-19-vaccine-naci-1.6231053