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.
Health Canada is set to complete its reviews of the Novavax and Medicago COVID-19 vaccines “in the coming weeks,” according to the agency’s deputy minister.
“The Health Canada dedicated regulatory teams for each submission are working very hard at these. They are dependent on information from the companies to complete those reviews, but we expect to be making decisions on both vaccines in the coming weeks,” said Health Canada Deputy Minister Stephen Lucas, facing questions from MPs at the House of Commons Health Committee on Tuesday.
If authorized by the federal regulator, these vaccines would become the first COVID-19 vaccines to be made in Canada.
While Novavax is a Maryland-based company, in February 2021— facing pressure over Canada’s depleted domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity— the federal government signed a deal with Novavax to produce its COVID-19 vaccine at a new Montreal facility. That facility opened this summer, with the aim of producing vaccines in early 2022. Health Canada has been reviewing Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine since January 2021.
Medicago, which is headquartered in Quebec, has had their COVID-19 vaccine under review by Health Canada since April 2021. The federal government has committed $173 million towards the plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate and the eventual Canadian production of it in Quebec City.
NDP MP Don Davies and Conservative MP Ryan Williams both asked about the status of these reviews at Tuesday’s meeting citing interest in having made-in-Canada options as well as other offerings to potentially address vaccine hesitancy.
The government has contracts in place securing up to 76 million doses each of the Medicago and Novavax vaccines, should they be required.
Asked at the meeting how soon Canadian production of COVID-19 vaccines could happen, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos could not give an answer.
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.
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
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.
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
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's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.