In Canada, a fully-vaccinated person is someone who has received two shots of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or a single dose from a one-dose vaccine. For travellers, the definition is broadened further to include anyone who has received at least two doses of the nine COVID-19 vaccines accepted for travel. But experts say that with two-dose vaccines losing their effectiveness, and strains of Omicron now slamming vulnerable populations, changing the definition would have had the strongest impact on vaccine uptake when mandates were in place. With that window now closed, convincing Canadians to get vaccinated just got harder. While Furness said Ottawa must now “sell the idea” and explain the rationale behind booster doses, Arya said public health messaging should convey the realities of Omicron’s subvariants.

Source: thestar July 07, 2022 18:02 UTC