B.C. health officials say flooding is impacting efforts to get doses for children into the province
As invitations to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children in B.C. continue to roll out, health officials say it has been a “herculean effort” to get doses into the province.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday that the recent flooding has led to damaged highways and disrupted supply chains, causing a logistical issue when it comes to getting enough vaccines for kids aged five to 11 into B.C.
“It takes some days for the shipments to come from Ontario to us and then for us to be able to distribute them,” Henry said. “It has been a herculean effort, literally.”
On Monday, B.C. health officials began sending out invitations for children to book their doses.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said Monday about 104,000 of the 350,000 eligible children in the province had registered to receive the modified dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Henry confirmed Tuesday the invitations will continue to be sent out over the next while and reminded B.C. residents that pharmacies are not currently offering the pediatric vaccines, they are instead focusing on booster doses.
Earlier this month, Health Canada announced its approval of Pfizer-BioNTech's two-dose vaccine for children ages five to 11. The vaccine will be a smaller dose than what's given to those aged 12 and older.
Families are encouraged to speak with their family doctor if they have any questions or concerns about the impacts of the vaccine on children.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.