vaccines

Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends immunocompromised kids between the ages of five and 11 be offered a third dose of an mRNA vaccine to protect them against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Kids should get the COVID-19 shot, and an extra for the immunocompromised: NACI

Health advisory committee strengthening its endorsement of vaccination

Fraser Health registered nurse Ramn Manan draws a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a walk-up vaccination clinic at Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, May 17, 2021. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends immunocompromised kids between the ages of five and 11 be offered a third dose of an mRNA vaccine to protect them against COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Trucks sit idle before a cross-country convoy departure for Ottawa to protest a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, in Delta, B.C., on Sunday, January 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

GoFundMe withholding $4.5 million from trucker convoy until plan presented

Funds raised from 58,300 donors, according to the GoFundMe page of the ‘Freedom Convoy’

Trucks sit idle before a cross-country convoy departure for Ottawa to protest a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, in Delta, B.C., on Sunday, January 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Seven-year-old Mabel Limdao is held by her father William as Dr. Kevin Evelyn of UHN gives her a COVID-19 vaccine at a “Kids and Families Vaccine Clinic” operated by Black Creek Community Health Centre and hosted by Jane and Finch EarlyON child and Family Centre in the Jane and Finch Mall in Toronto. One member of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force says the timing of the Omicron outbreak in Canada may have hurt the uptake of pediatric vaccines to fight the virus, just when kids need them most. (File photo by The Canadian Press)

Kids’ vaccine rate still low despite rampant spread of Omicron variant

In the two months since approval, 51 per cent of kids between 5 and 11 have had at least one dose

Seven-year-old Mabel Limdao is held by her father William as Dr. Kevin Evelyn of UHN gives her a COVID-19 vaccine at a “Kids and Families Vaccine Clinic” operated by Black Creek Community Health Centre and hosted by Jane and Finch EarlyON child and Family Centre in the Jane and Finch Mall in Toronto. One member of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force says the timing of the Omicron outbreak in Canada may have hurt the uptake of pediatric vaccines to fight the virus, just when kids need them most. (File photo by The Canadian Press)
Truckers and supporters raise their fists and hold a banner before a cross-country convoy destined for Ottawa to protest a federal vaccine mandate for truckers departed in Delta, B.C. on Sunday, January 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trucker convoy raises millions in funds as vaccine-hesitant supporters flock to cause

‘Freedom Convoy’ says it has raised more than $3.5 million from some 46,500 donors

Truckers and supporters raise their fists and hold a banner before a cross-country convoy destined for Ottawa to protest a federal vaccine mandate for truckers departed in Delta, B.C. on Sunday, January 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Black Press file photo)

Unvaccinated truckers plan “Freedom Convoy” to protest cross-border vaccine mandate

Truckers plan to roll out from Vancouver to Ottawa on Sunday Jan. 23

(Black Press file photo)
In this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, photo, trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ont. into Detroit. Turmoil and confusion last week over whether truckers would remain exempt from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate followed misinterpretations of regulations by both the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Paul Sancya

Public Health Agency of Canada involved in ‘error’ on trucker vaccine rules: sources

Government provided no more explanation for the botched messaging

In this Tuesday, June 12, 2018, photo, trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ont. into Detroit. Turmoil and confusion last week over whether truckers would remain exempt from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate followed misinterpretations of regulations by both the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Paul Sancya
A young person is vaccinated at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic as the campaign to vaccinate children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 continues, in Montreal, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

More in-school clinics could be key to raising vaccination rates for kids: doctors

Health Canada says the national average of children with their first shot is less than half

A young person is vaccinated at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic as the campaign to vaccinate children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 continues, in Montreal, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks after the United Conservative Party annual meeting in Calgary on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

Alberta premier says he won’t follow Quebec plan to levy fee on COVID-19 unvaccinated

Kenney says despite greater burden, making the unvaccinated pay extra would not be fair

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks after the United Conservative Party annual meeting in Calgary on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal
RCMP officers detain and speak with one of the protesters at the Real Canadian Superstore in Kamloops on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. (Kamloops This Week/Facebook)

RCMP arrest 5, ticket 43 maskless protesters at Kamloops Superstore

Police responded following reports of increased intimidation and escalation during weekly protests

  • Jan 11, 2022
RCMP officers detain and speak with one of the protesters at the Real Canadian Superstore in Kamloops on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. (Kamloops This Week/Facebook)
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole speaks during a news conference responding to the federal government’s COVID-19 response, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Erin O’Toole pushes for unvaccinated Canadians to be accommodated amid Omicron wave

O’Toole came out as opposed to vaccine mandates during last year’s election campaign

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole speaks during a news conference responding to the federal government’s COVID-19 response, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A man gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at a site near Johannesburg, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 a day after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive receiving for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the disease. Ramaphosa started feeling unwell Sunday and a test confirmed COVID-19. A statement said he has mild symptoms, is self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Early data indicating Omicron is milder, better at evading vaccines

The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have…

A man gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at a site near Johannesburg, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 a day after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive receiving for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the disease. Ramaphosa started feeling unwell Sunday and a test confirmed COVID-19. A statement said he has mild symptoms, is self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
Registered Nurse Sara Fung poses for a photo in Binbrook, Ont., on Monday, December 13, 2021. Fung was overcome with emotion when the first COVID-19 vaccines started pouring into Canada last December, and again in March when she received her first dose. As she felt the prick of the needle on her arm, the Hamilton-area nurse thought of the grandmother she lost to COVID-19 nearly a year earlier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

One-year vaccine anniversary brings ‘bittersweet’ memories for health-care workers

Sara Fung was overcome with emotion when the first COVID-19 vaccines started…

Registered Nurse Sara Fung poses for a photo in Binbrook, Ont., on Monday, December 13, 2021. Fung was overcome with emotion when the first COVID-19 vaccines started pouring into Canada last December, and again in March when she received her first dose. As she felt the prick of the needle on her arm, the Hamilton-area nurse thought of the grandmother she lost to COVID-19 nearly a year earlier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
(Contributed)

Poll suggests 40% of Canadians know unvaccinated people, don’t discuss issue

About one in eight of of those surveyed said they argue with the unvaccinated

(Contributed)
MLA Roly Russell (right) meets with anti-vax demonstrators outside his constituency office Thursday, Dec. 9. Photo: Laurie Tritschler

MLA Russell addresses demonstrators comparing vaccines to experiments on Jews

The MLA said he supported COVID-19 vaccination as a means of keeping people safe, alive

MLA Roly Russell (right) meets with anti-vax demonstrators outside his constituency office Thursday, Dec. 9. Photo: Laurie Tritschler
(Photo: Metro creative stock)

Vaccination rates among children vary across Interior Health region

The province authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 earlier this month

(Photo: Metro creative stock)
A security guard stands in position outside a ward being prepared for the Omicron coronavirus variant at Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. Within hours of the World Health Organization designating Omicron a variant of concern late last month, Moderna issued a press release telling the public it was already working on a vaccine booster that could target the new threat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ajit Solanki

Improvements to vaccine technology in COVID age could benefit future inoculations

One benefit to mRNA vaccines is how they are rapidly adaptable

A security guard stands in position outside a ward being prepared for the Omicron coronavirus variant at Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. Within hours of the World Health Organization designating Omicron a variant of concern late last month, Moderna issued a press release telling the public it was already working on a vaccine booster that could target the new threat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ajit Solanki
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Mark Holland speaks during a news conference on November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Liberals raise doubts of high number of vaccine exemptions among Conservatives

House leader calls for Conservative transparency about number of unvaccinated elected officials

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Mark Holland speaks during a news conference on November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
(File photo)

B.C. chiropractic regulating body walks back motion against vaccine mandates

Health Minister Adrian Dix called the motion disappointing, not reflective of most chiropractors

(File photo)
(Phil McLachlan/Black Press)

‘I was shocked’: Mother, child mistakenly given COVID-19 vaccine instead of flu shot

The shots were administered on Nov. 24 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon Manitoba

(Phil McLachlan/Black Press)
A registered pharmacist technician carefully fills the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations is set to release new guidance this morning on the use of COVID-19 vaccine boosters as public health faces down the threat of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada’s vaccine advisory panel strongly recommends boosters for those 50 and up

Recommendations come after urgent federal request tied to fighting the new Omicron variant

A registered pharmacist technician carefully fills the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations is set to release new guidance this morning on the use of COVID-19 vaccine boosters as public health faces down the threat of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette