Canada’s top doctor issues dire warning about COVID-19 fight

OTTAWA — The country’s top doctor says the health care system across the country is overwhelmed by the unvaccinated – and it could only be getting worse.

“From early August to early September, the average weekly rate of new COVID-19 cases was 11 times higher, while the average weekly rate of hospitalizations was 38 times higher in unvaccinated people than vaccinated people,”  Dr. Theresa Tam said.

As of Friday, we are seeing about 4,300 new cases every day, compared to 3,500 three weeks ago.

The jump is blamed on the Delta variant, and the millions of Canadians who are eligible to get a vaccine, but have not. An estimated 80 per cent of the country is fully vaccinated, but that still leaves about six-million eligible Canadians who have had only one, or no shots.

Dr. Theresa Tam says most of these cases and those with severe outcomes are among those who are not vaccinated.

Completing your #COVID19 vaccination series gives you your best protection against #COVID19 & its variants, including the more contagious #DeltaVariant.
Get your 2nd shot as soon as you are able! #SleevesUp pic.twitter.com/lGz1fn6mG8

— Canada's CPHO (@CPHO_Canada) September 24, 2021

Vaccines in children

Tam also provided new details Friday into the immunization efforts for those under 12, who are currently unable to get the shot.

This week, Pfizer announced it would seek FDA approval for it’s COVID-19 to be used on children between five and 11 years old.

Tam says Health Canada is examining the research, and will make a decision soon if it will recommend the vaccine be used on youngsters.

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But, she says the safety data won’t be the only factor public health officials and parents will have to consider when deciding whether or not to vaccinate young kids against COVID-19.

Children’s risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 are low compared to the rest of the population, but Tam warned rare incidents can become more common as the virus spreads.

She also points to the impacts of “long COVID,” which is still being studied, and the importance of limiting disruptions to school as things to consider for why children should be immunized.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Public Health Agency of Canada will provide more official advice when they receive and analyze the safety and efficacy data from Pfizer and other vaccine manufacturers.