15.84°C Vancouver

Aug 4, 2020 8:33 PM -

COVID-19 vaccine efforts provide hope but no silver bullet to stop pandemic: Tam

Share On
covid-19-vaccine-efforts-provide-hope-but-no-silver-bullet-to-stop-pandemic-tam
Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, hold a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada's chief public health officer says regardless of when a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, the Public Health Agency of Canada is planning to be responding to the pandemic for at least another year if not two or three.

Dr. Theresa Tam says a safe and effective vaccine is a very important aspect of the COVID-19 response, but it is not the ``silver bullet'' that will end the health crisis.

Tam says the public health measures we currently have in place such as social distancing, wearing a mask in indoor public spaces are going to have to continue in the long-run.

Answering criticism that the federal "COVID Alert" app only works on newer smartphones, Dr. Theresa Tam says it's one of many tools in fighting the novel coronavirus.

The app released last week is meant to tell users if their phones have recently been close to a phone registered to someone who volunteers that they've tested positive for COVID-19.

But it works only on phones released in the last five years or so because it needs a relatively recent operating system.

Critics say that will leave out poorer and older Canadians, who are more likely to use older devices and suffer worse effects from the virus.

The government said Monday that 1.1 million people had downloaded the app.

Tam says we need to use every tool we have to fight the pandemic, even if they aren't perfect.

Latest news

jagdeep-dhankhar-resigns-as-vice-president-of-india
IndiaJul 21, 2025

Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns as Vice President of India

Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday tendered his resignation from his post “to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice.” Jagdeep Dhankhar was serving as the Vice President of India since 2022. He previously served as the governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, he wrote that he was resigning in order “to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice.” He also thanked the President, Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers for their support and guidance.
heat-warning-up-for-b-c-s-north-coast-persisting-until-tuesday
BCJul 21, 2025

Heat warning up for B.C.'s north coast, persisting until Tuesday

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the inland regions of British Columbia's north coast, saying there is a moderate risk to public health. It says daytime temperatures are expected to be near 30 degrees Celsius with overnight lows in the mid-teens. The weather office says the elevated temperatures are expected to persist until Tuesday night, returning to seasonal values on Wednesday. It says health risks are higher for seniors, people who live alone and those with pre-existing conditions including diabetes, heart disease and respiratory diseases. Environment Canada is encouraging
worlds-oldest-marathoner-fauja-singh-cremated-with-full-state-honours
IndiaJul 21, 2025

World’s oldest marathoner Fauja Singh cremated with full state honours

The world's oldest athlete, 114-year-old Fauja Singh, merged into 5 elements yesterday. He was given a last farewell with government honors in his native Beas village near Jalandhar. At the time of his funeral, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, along with the entire top leadership of Congress, Akali Dal and BJP, were present. On this occasion, a special condolence message was also sent to the family by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the statue of this great athlete will be installed in the v
uk-france-and-23-other-countries-say-the-war-in-gaza-must-end-now
WorldJul 21, 2025

UK, France and 23 other countries say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’

Twenty-five countries including Britain, France and a host of European nations say the war in Gaza “must end now” and Israel must comply with international law. The foreign ministers of countries including Australia, Canada and Japan have condemned “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians” seeking food.
pm-to-meet-with-u-s-senators-in-ottawa-to-talk-trade
CanadaJul 21, 2025

PM to meet with U.S. senators in Ottawa to talk trade

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with a delegation of U.S. senators this morning who are in Ottawa to discuss the ongoing trade conflict between Canada and the U.S. A media advisory from the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance says four senators plan to "reaffirm the importance of ties between the United States and Canada" in meetings with Carney and other top government officials. The delegation includes Democratic senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, as well as Republican senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. In a letter to Car

Related News