Infectious disease expert addresses most common pandemic questions
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch addressed pandemic questions in an interview with CTV News.
THIRD COVID-19 DOSES
Most people want to know when they will be eligible for their third COVID-19 vaccine shot.
Dr. Bogoch says for most adults, a third dose will be necessary in the future, but not now.
However, he says there are some segments of the population who do need the additional shot.
"We know third doses are going into people with compromised immune systems," he says.
Dr. Bogoch went on to say the province may release more information on its third dose strategy soon, but it would likely begin with the community-dwelling senior population, healthcare workers and Indigenous communities.
Dr. Bogoch believes there will be an expansion to other groups in the future.
"I think it's fair to say that most adults will be eligible for the third dose probably six to 10 months after their second dose, "Bogoch notes.
According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, anyone who got two shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine needs to get an mRNA booster shot six months after their second dose.
Dr. Bogoch says research shows that Canadians who got the shot or went south of the border for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would benefit from an mRNA vaccine as an additional dose to provide them with a greater level of protection.
BREAKTHROUGH CASES
Dr. Bogoch says breakthrough infections are not uncommon.
"We knew this long before the Delta variant even emerged. We seen this in the first clinical trials. These vaccines are not 100 per cent protective against getting COVID-19," Dr. Bogoch says.
The infectious disease expert adds that it's important to understand that we are two doses into a three-dose vaccine series, and breakthrough cases will occur in large populations.
For those who recovered from COVID-19, Dr. Bogoch says they have a certain level of immunity for a while, but it is unclear how long.
"There are very good studies that demonstrate that protection from vaccination is significantly better than protection from COVID-19 from recovery after infection. The odds of having a severe infection are five times less in people who have been vaccinated versus those who have immunity from recovering from infection," he says.
Dr. Bogoch urges those who have recovered to get vaccinated to avoid severe symptoms.
NEW COVID-19 VACCINE NOVAVAX
A new vaccine could soon join the approved vaccines in Canada called Novavax.
Dr. Bogoch says that it's an interesting option because it's not an mRNA vaccine and adds that a study with over 30,000 people looked promising, with 90 per cent efficacy.
According to Dr. Bogoch, the Novavax vaccine doesn't need cold storage like the mRNA vaccines and can be mass-produced in Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.