Quebec minister apologizes for 'communication error' regarding AstraZeneca 2nd shots
Quebec's health minister apologized on Thursday after the government appeared to change its advice regarding second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
A message appeared on the province's website Wednesday saying that people who received a first shot of AstraZeneca should get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for their second doses because the vaccine combination is more effective than two shots of the same vaccine.
Christian Dube told reporters Thursday that the message was a "communication error" stemming from a misinterpretation of advice from the province's immunization committee.
"I apologize to the population," he said.
"'Our position on AstraZeneca is clear: it's an excellent vaccine and those who want to get it for a second dose can do so."
As of Thursday at noon, the language on the site had been changed to say that AstraZeneca recipients "could" get a different vaccine for their second dose, rather than "should."
Dube said the choice of whether to opt for a different second dose remains a personal one, based on weighing the slightly higher efficacy of a mixed vaccine regimen with the potential for more severe side-effects.
The minister said he'd personally chosen to receive two doses of AstraZeneca.
Quebec reported 161 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, as well as one further death attributed to the novel coronavirus.
Hospitalizations dropped by 14 patients in hospital to 178, with four fewer patients requiring intensive care for a total for 41.
The province added 99,580 vaccine doses to its tally and more than seven million shots have been administered since the campaign began.
Dube said the government would be forced to readjust its vaccine campaign for July after learning it will receive about 600,000 fewer Pfizer doses than expected.
He said the vaccine appointments already made will be honoured, but there won't be any more spots available in the first half of the month for people hoping to move up the date for their second doses.
"It's been a year and a half that we've been adjusting, so we'll adjust again," Dube said. He said the province still expects to meet its target of vaccinating all willing eligible Quebecers with two doses by the end of August.
Currently, more than 79 per cent of the population 12 and older have received one dose and 14.8 per cent have received both doses.
Dube was speaking alongside Finance Minister Eric Girard on Thursday, as they announced a $13 million investment into a project to boost local production of the active ingredients in medications.
Dube said the Pfizer vaccine delivery delay is just one of many examples of how COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of the medical supply chain and the risk of being too dependent on external suppliers for vital medication.
The project, led by the Universite de Montreal, aims to increase Quebec's ability to produce key medicine ingredients at home as well as to support research into new drugs, which could eventually be produced in partnership with the manufacturing sector.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.