vaccines

A man gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at a site near Johannesburg, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 a day after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive receiving for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the disease. Ramaphosa started feeling unwell Sunday and a test confirmed COVID-19. A statement said he has mild symptoms, is self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Early data indicating Omicron is milder, better at evading vaccines

The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have…

A man gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at a site near Johannesburg, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 a day after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive receiving for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the disease. Ramaphosa started feeling unwell Sunday and a test confirmed COVID-19. A statement said he has mild symptoms, is self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
Registered Nurse Sara Fung poses for a photo in Binbrook, Ont., on Monday, December 13, 2021. Fung was overcome with emotion when the first COVID-19 vaccines started pouring into Canada last December, and again in March when she received her first dose. As she felt the prick of the needle on her arm, the Hamilton-area nurse thought of the grandmother she lost to COVID-19 nearly a year earlier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

One-year vaccine anniversary brings ‘bittersweet’ memories for health-care workers

Sara Fung was overcome with emotion when the first COVID-19 vaccines started…

Registered Nurse Sara Fung poses for a photo in Binbrook, Ont., on Monday, December 13, 2021. Fung was overcome with emotion when the first COVID-19 vaccines started pouring into Canada last December, and again in March when she received her first dose. As she felt the prick of the needle on her arm, the Hamilton-area nurse thought of the grandmother she lost to COVID-19 nearly a year earlier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
(Contributed)

Poll suggests 40% of Canadians know unvaccinated people, don’t discuss issue

About one in eight of of those surveyed said they argue with the unvaccinated

(Contributed)
A security guard stands in position outside a ward being prepared for the Omicron coronavirus variant at Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. Within hours of the World Health Organization designating Omicron a variant of concern late last month, Moderna issued a press release telling the public it was already working on a vaccine booster that could target the new threat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ajit Solanki

Improvements to vaccine technology in COVID age could benefit future inoculations

One benefit to mRNA vaccines is how they are rapidly adaptable

A security guard stands in position outside a ward being prepared for the Omicron coronavirus variant at Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. Within hours of the World Health Organization designating Omicron a variant of concern late last month, Moderna issued a press release telling the public it was already working on a vaccine booster that could target the new threat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ajit Solanki
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Mark Holland speaks during a news conference on November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Liberals raise doubts of high number of vaccine exemptions among Conservatives

House leader calls for Conservative transparency about number of unvaccinated elected officials

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Mark Holland speaks during a news conference on November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A registered pharmacist technician carefully fills the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations is set to release new guidance this morning on the use of COVID-19 vaccine boosters as public health faces down the threat of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada’s vaccine advisory panel strongly recommends boosters for those 50 and up

Recommendations come after urgent federal request tied to fighting the new Omicron variant

A registered pharmacist technician carefully fills the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations is set to release new guidance this morning on the use of COVID-19 vaccine boosters as public health faces down the threat of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Anthony Rota is escorted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Erin O’Toole to the Speakers chair after being elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons Monday, November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Board exceeded its authority in imposing vaccine mandate for Commons: Speaker

Anthony Rota says only the House itself can make a decision to restrict access

Anthony Rota is escorted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Erin O’Toole to the Speakers chair after being elected as the Speaker of the House of Commons Monday, November 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
UBC research has yielded results suggesting waiting longer between COVID-19 vaccinations leads to better immunity. Pictured here vaccinations in Montreal in March. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)

Longer intervals between COVID-19 shots can increase immunity, Canadian study suggests

Peer-reviewed study used blood tests from paramedics

UBC research has yielded results suggesting waiting longer between COVID-19 vaccinations leads to better immunity. Pictured here vaccinations in Montreal in March. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)
The first vial of paediatric COVID-19 vaccine used in Toronto. Children who are part of the Hospital for Sick Children family between the ages of 5 and 11 years of age are some of the first to get vaccinated for COVID-19 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, in Toronto, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Russell, POOL

COVID-19 shots arriving Monday for B.C. 5- to 11-year-olds

About 91,000 of 350,000 eligible children have been registered for vaccination so far

The first vial of paediatric COVID-19 vaccine used in Toronto. Children who are part of the Hospital for Sick Children family between the ages of 5 and 11 years of age are some of the first to get vaccinated for COVID-19 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, in Toronto, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Russell, POOL
A young patient receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 in Vienna, Austria on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Lisa Leutner

‘Significant milestone:’ COVID vaccine plans for children roll out across the country

One-third of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario are in school-aged children.

A young patient receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 in Vienna, Austria on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Lisa Leutner
Nurse Iciar Bercian prepares a shot at a vaccine clinic in Calgary on June 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta apartment building owner hopes to set precedent with vaccine requirement

Strategic says it’s first major landlord in Canada to implement a vaccine requirement for new tenants

Nurse Iciar Bercian prepares a shot at a vaccine clinic in Calgary on June 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Two vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine sit on a table at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Halifax on Monday, May 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Plane carrying doses of COVID-19 vaccines for kids touches down in Canada

Country gears up for the next phase of the national mass immunization campaign

Two vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine sit on a table at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Halifax on Monday, May 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Vials of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines sit empty on the counter at the Junction Chemist Pharmacy in Toronto on Friday, June 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada has thrown away at least one million COVID-19 vaccine doses: survey

Canadian Press survey shows the amount of unused doses vary wildly across Canada

Vials of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines sit empty on the counter at the Junction Chemist Pharmacy in Toronto on Friday, June 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A worker picks up a COVID-19 self collection test kit which are given to arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa to drop need for COVID-19 test after short-term U.S. visits as of Nov. 30

The federal government says that as of Nov. 30, fully vaccinated Canadians…

A worker picks up a COVID-19 self collection test kit which are given to arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver Thursday, March 11, 2021. The federal government is set to make two major announcement on the pandemic front Friday, starting with the approval of Canada’s first COVID-19 vaccine for children, then later detailed plans to ease some of the pandemic-related measures at the border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Health Canada approves first COVID-19 vaccine for kids aged five to 11

Trials in children show comparable safety and efficacy to those recorded in people aged 16 to 25

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is given to a recipient at a vaccination site in Vancouver Thursday, March 11, 2021. The federal government is set to make two major announcement on the pandemic front Friday, starting with the approval of Canada’s first COVID-19 vaccine for children, then later detailed plans to ease some of the pandemic-related measures at the border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A single vehicle heads into the U.S. at the quiet Peace Arch border crossing Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Blaine, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Feds to announce approval of kids’ COVID-19 vaccine, easing of border measures Friday

Provinces poised and ready to start vaccinating children as soon as doses are distributed

A single vehicle heads into the U.S. at the quiet Peace Arch border crossing Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Blaine, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question as he takes part in a forum at the Wilson Center, Wednesday, November 17, 2021 in Washington, D.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

North American leaders to talk vaccine sharing, migration woes at summit

US President Joe Biden is hosting Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question as he takes part in a forum at the Wilson Center, Wednesday, November 17, 2021 in Washington, D.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
An Edmonton Oiler fan has their COVID-19 vaccination proof checked before entering the Saddledome for pre-season NHL hockey action in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. Starting today in Alberta, you’re going to need more than a sheet of paper you got from a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in order to sit down at a restaurant, work out at a gym or gain entry to many venues like indoor arenas or movie theatres. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta now requires vaccine record with QR code for its passport program

Alberta residents will now need more than a paper record from a…

An Edmonton Oiler fan has their COVID-19 vaccination proof checked before entering the Saddledome for pre-season NHL hockey action in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. Starting today in Alberta, you’re going to need more than a sheet of paper you got from a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in order to sit down at a restaurant, work out at a gym or gain entry to many venues like indoor arenas or movie theatres. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Exit lanes from Point Roberts, Wash., sit empty at the local Canadian border station, which was shut down to all but essential travel during the pandemic. Richard Read | Los Angeles Times

Unvaxxed students face unwelcome reality when considering travel

As borders open there remains fine print that Canadian families should be aware of

Exit lanes from Point Roberts, Wash., sit empty at the local Canadian border station, which was shut down to all but essential travel during the pandemic. Richard Read | Los Angeles Times
A woman lays a wreath at the cenotaph in Hope on Remembrance Day. (Bill Dobbs photo)

Remembrance Day gatherings disrupted in British Columbia

Incidents in Kelowna and Kamloops mar Nov. 11 gatherings

A woman lays a wreath at the cenotaph in Hope on Remembrance Day. (Bill Dobbs photo)