Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is giving the measure the green light for people who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose. Dr. Theresa Tam acknowledges that the ever-changing recommendations on vaccines can be confusing to Canadians. But she says those recommendations must evolve as the scientific research on vaccines evolves. Dr. Tam says the new recommendation doesn't mean Canadians who received the AstraZeneca shot need to switch brands for their second dose. A study in the United Kingdom reported last m

A retired Supreme Court justice is calling for significant changes to how the Canadian Armed Forces deals with allegations of sexual misconduct following a months-long review of Canada' military justice system. In an at-times scathing report tabled in the House of Commons this morning, Morris Fish says his review confirmed that the nature, extent and human cost of sexual misconduct in the military remains as rampant and destructive as in 2015. That was when fellow retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps released her own explosive report that revealed a highly sexualized culture within t

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization issued guidance today allowing for people who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose to get an mRNA vaccine for their second. A study in the United Kingdom reported last month that mixing AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech as first and second doses led to more reports of short-lived side-effects like fevers and fatigue but was otherwise safe. The Spanish study concluded a second dose of Pfizer after a first dose of AstraZeneca produced more than twice the antibodies as a second dose of AstraZeneca. All provinces paused the use

It seems Justin Trudeau has picked up a new accessory, though this one is not by choice. The prime minister known for his snazzy socks and styled hair was spotted Monday walking with a cane after leaving an event announcing federal loans for Black entrepreneurs. Spokesman Alex Wellstead says Trudeau sprained his ankle while playing Frisbee with his children at home over the Victoria Day long weekend. There was no word on the severity of the sprain or how long the prime minister will need to use the device, which was nowhere to be seen during the actual announcement. However, Wellstead says th

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is signalling he supports N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh's call for an emergency debate on the discovery of Indigenous childrens' remains. The remains of more than 200 children were found on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, BC. Trudeau also says he will speak to the three cabinet ministers who oversee Indigenous policy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he was appalled at hearing of the discovery of at least 215 Indigenous children's bodies found on the grounds of a former residential school in British Columbia. Trudeau says Canadians cannot hi

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked that flags on all federal buildings be flown at half-mast in honour of the lives of 215 children whose remains were found at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.Trudeau says he has made the request, which will include the Peace Tower flag, to honour all Indigenous children who "never made it home", the survivors of the school and their families.Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, were confirmed last weekend with the help of groun

Procurement Minister Anita Anand says Canada has confirmed shipments of 15 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines from three suppliers. She says every eligible Canadian will have access to a second dose by the end of the summer. She says 2.4 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech will arrive each week over five weeks in June and nine million more will arrive in July. As announced yesterday, she says Moderna has provided an updated delivery schedule for the first part of June, with 500,000 doses in two shipments starting next week. She also says 1.5 million doses of Moderna are arriving the week of

Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the COVID-19 situation has taken a turn for the better in the country over the past month. She says more than 22 million doses of vaccines have been administered across the country and Canada's efforts have gotten it over the peak of the third wave nationally. Dr. Tam says average case counts are now less than half of what they were during the peak of the third wave in mid-April, with under 3,400 cases being reported daily over the past seven days. Dr. Tam says the number of people experiencing severe or critical illness is also decrea

Canada's expert advisory panel on vaccines says increased supply of COVID-19 vaccines means that people should be offered a second dose as soon as possible. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says priority for second doses should be given to those who are at the highest risk of getting seriously ill or dying from the virus. NACI has also issued new guidance recommending that people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have an autoimmune condition be vaccinated against COVID-19. It says mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are preferred for pregnant people. Since the