As Omicron spreads across Canada, Sask. NDP calls for expansion to COVID-19 booster shots
Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili is calling for a plan to expand availability of COVID-19 booster shots for Saskatchewan residents 18 and over as the Omicron variant spreads across the country.
“With this new variant and a fifth wave on the horizon, now is the time to be proactive. The (Saskatchewan Health Authority) has already warned that it's not a matter of if but a matter of when Saskatchewan will go through a fifth wave,” Meili said in a news release.
"This government has so far refused to learn from the previous waves, instead choosing to play politics and pander instead of listening to the advice of experts. We can’t afford to let the Sask. Party get this wrong again.”
The NDP’s demand comes the same day as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended adults over 50 be offered COVID-19 boosters, while those aged 18 to 49 “may” be offered boosters based on individual risks and where they live.
This updated advice comes after the federal government requested on Tuesday that NACI “quickly” review its guidance on prioritizing COVID-19 booster shots in light of concerns over the Omicron variant.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Canada has reported seven confirmed cases of the Omicron variant and has since banned travel into the country from a host of African nations, including South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt.
The cases were in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
While it remains unclear just how transmissible and severe infection by the variant B.1.1.529 might be, because Omicron is highly mutated health officials have expressed concerns that it may be more vaccine-resistant.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, provinces and territories are responsible for deciding their vaccine rollout eligibility strategies and whether or not to follow NACI’s recommendations.
According to the Sask. NDP, Thursday night’s physician’s town hall relayed that when it came to a fifth wave, it was not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.”
The SHA has identified three factors in the scale and timing of the fifth wave:
- the rate of waning immunity
- population behaviour (as it relates to social gatherings and mixing)
- the unknown impact of the Omicron variant.
“We’re just coming out of the deadliest fourth wave in the country. Our healthcare system has still not recovered. There are patients in desperate need of life-saving surgeries and we won’t be able to get through the backlog if Saskatchewan sees skyrocketing hospitalizations, as we did during the last wave,” Meili said.
“Expanding third dose availability is key to keeping the fifth wave under control.”
Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman said Monday that officials in the province are keeping a close watch on developments around Omicron.
Merriman said the best defense against COVID-19 and its variants is to get fully vaccinated.
Currently, health care workers, those who are immunocompromised and people aged 65 and older can get their booster shot. People 50 and older in the Far North and living on First Nations are also eligible.
Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said Wednesday that eligibility could open up for more people in the coming days and weeks.
With files from Rachel Aiello and Ben Cousins.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty in sports betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud Wednesday in a sports betting case where prosecutors allege he stole US$16 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.