to date, 46 per cent of quebec’s population above the age of 12 has received two doses. (if one were to include the province’s total population, the percentage dips to 40.3 per cent.)
quebec has recorded rare cases of infections and deaths among fully immunized residents of eldercare homes. studies have shown that the vaccines approved in canada offer excellent protection against severe covid-19 infections from the delta variant, but less so for milder ones.
although ontario, british columbia and alberta have been observing a steady rise in the number of cases of the delta variant, quebec has so far counted 183 infections. this week,
quebec’s public health lab has started to screen
covid-19 samples for the genetic mutations of delta.
in the u.s., delta has been responsible for a resurgence in both cases and hospitalizations, especially in states with low vaccination rates. on monday, pfizer representatives met with top u.s. officials to secure approval for administering a third dose to elderly and immunocompromised americans who got their last shot at least six months ago.
in the spring, ottawa signed a deal with pfizer to purchase 35 million doses next year and 30 million in 2023. the contract includes options to add 30 million doses both in 2022 and 2023, as well as 60 million in 2024, suggesting that the shots may become an annual affair for canadians in the short term.