A health care worker gets her first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo: BC Government.)
With several more infectious variants of concern circling the globe, we could be facing a “new pandemic,” B.C.'s top doctor said.
"It does change the game in some ways if it does take off ... I think all of us are dreading that," said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer. "We need to get a handle on it.”
So far, 40 confirmed cases of the variants have been found in B.C, including 25 of the B.117 U.K. variant, Dr. Henry said. Most of these cases are related to travel, but one case is unconnected. There are 15 cases of B.1351 South African variant in B.C. and it’s unknown where most of those were contracted, she said. All but one is unrelated to travel.
Each case of COVID-19 found to be caused by a variant is followed very carefully in B.C. So far, scientists have found these cases in a younger population who have travelled. Because they're younger, there have not been any severe cases, Dr. Henry said.
B.C. is planning to do genome sequencing of a whole day's worth of COVID-19 tests to get a better understanding of how much the variants are circulating in the province, Dr. Henry says.
Meanwhile, the vaccine shortage continues and among those who have been lucky enough to get vaccines, there have been a number of so-called “adverse effects,” – mostly severe allergic reactions. As of Monday, 154,496 vaccinations had been given in B.C. and there were 217 adverse effects, Dr. Henry said. Eighteen of those were anaphylaxis allergic reactions.
Across Canada, there have been 480 adverse effects, including vaccination site reactions, tingling or prickling, hives, itching and nausea. There were 68 serious adverse events, mostly anaphylaxis. Three deaths were reported after the administration of a vaccine, but after a medical review, it was determined they were not linked to the vaccines.
In the United States, some people have developed a very rare blood disorder after receiving the vaccine, but it’s unknown if the vaccine caused the disorder, the New York Times reports.
Here’s the rest of the news:
- Now there’s a new variant from California, which should be of concern to British Columbians due to how much we depend on California for goods, writes the Vancouver Sun’s Vaughn Palmer.
- The AstraZeneca vaccine was shown to be ineffective in preventing moderate illness with the COVID-19 variant first discovered in South Africa, the Globe and Mail reports. After this discovery, South Africa stopped using this vaccine.
- Self-employed Canadians who misunderstood the rules for a federal benefit payment (CERB), will not have to repay that benefit. Others who do have to repay it will be given one year to do so, the Globe and Mail reports.
- World Health Organization investigators who are in China researching the origins of COVID-19 have said it is “extremely unlikely” the virus leaked from a lab, the BBC reports. Investigators are now looking at the transport and supply of frozen foods from other areas in Asia.
- Anyone arriving in Canada by a land border will need to show a recent negative COVID-19 test, the Canadian Press reports.
- Between 10 and 30 per cent of all people diagnosed with COVID-19 will become so-called “long-haulers” new research shows, CNBC reports.
- One such “long-hauler” may have been the source of the B.117 variant, Wired magazine reports.
- B.C. will be conducting a clinical trial in the Fraser Health region of Bamlanivimab, a treatment for COVID-19. This treatment is made from the plasma of survivors and has the potential to reduce hospitalizations, said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.
- The World Health Organization is warning that if vaccines are not shared with the world’s poorer countries, lives and livelihoods will be lost and COVID-19 will be given more opportunity to mutate. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and executive director Henrietta Fore said three-quarters of the vaccines given so far, have been given in just 10 countries. “COVID-19 has shown that our fates are inextricably linked. Whether we win or lose, we will do so together,” the pair said in a statement. They urged countries that have vaccinated their health workers and highest-risk populations to share their vaccines.
- The U.S. Centres for Disease Control now recommends people wear two masks – a disposable mask underneath a cloth mask – to better protect against the more infectious variants.
- Ontario has postponed its public school spring break until mid-April in a bid to slow the pandemic, the Globe and Mail reports. I’m not sure exactly what the logic is in postponing it – maybe things will be better by mid-April? – but it’s an interesting move.
The vaccines must beat the variants; only time will tell how that goes.
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