Partially vaccinated Canadians can socialize outdoors this summer, Tam says

Canadians who have been vaccinated with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can socialize with close family and friends outdoors over the summer months, Canada's chief public health officer said today.

With the vaccine supply ramping up, virtually all Canadians will have access to at least one vaccine dose byJune. Dr. Theresa Tam said that extra layer of protection will allow some of the more stringent social distancing measures to be relaxed but Canadians must continue to avoid indoor gatherings altogether until more people are fully vaccinated.

Tam said a more social summer will depend on Canadians staying apart for the rest of the spring. The case count is still too high and vaccination coverage too low to do away with public health measures right now, she said. Even partially vaccinated people should stay away from others until there is broader vaccine coverage in the weeks ahead.

Tam said provinces should begin to lift public health restrictionsonlyonce 75 per cent of all adults havehad at least one vaccine dose and 20 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Some provinces are on track to do that before Canada Day butreaching that goal will require most Canadians to roll up their sleeves when their turn comes. As of Friday, 50 per cent of Canadian adults have had one shot.

After reaching that 75 per cent milestone, she said, Canadians can safely enjoycamping, hiking, picnics, small backyard BBQs and drinks on a patio.

Tam said the "primary objective" for all levels of government is to create the conditions that permit provinces and territoriesto slowly easethe lockdowns and stay-at-home orders now in place.

But Canadians should still avoid all crowds, Tam said, and partially vaccinated people should continue to practise social distancing and wear masksin public for the foreseeable future.

"So, you actually have to be really careful as you slowly ease those measures. Vaccines will be a major help in keeping your rates low and point towards a future that includes some of these activities that we've longed for without aresurgencehappening," Tam said.

"Individuals with one dose should feel more confident that they're better protected, but you've got to get that second dose for maximal protection."

Asked why Canada has set the bar so high for doing away with some of the strictest public health measures, Tam said it ultimatelywill be up to the provinces and territories to decide when social and economic life can return to something closer to normal.

Tamsaid the U.K. is reopening with lower vaccination rates because it has been able to "crush" the third wave and hasfewer cases thanCanada. "Their epidemiological picture is completely different," she said.

Beyond vaccine metrics, she said,jurisdictions should monitor their retransmission numbers the figures that showhow widespread COVID-19 is in their communities before re-opening.

"You have to let the epidemiology and data drive the slow reopening measuresatthe local level," she said.

While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) has just stated thatfully vaccinated Americans can ditch their masks in most settings, Tam said Canada likelywilltake a more cautious approach.

"Ithink masks might be the last layer of that multi-layer protection that we will advise people to remove," she said.

The U.S. is much further along in fully vaccinating its adult population; about45 per cent of American adults havehadtwo doses, compared to fewer than 4 per cent of all Canadians. Canada has delayed second doses by up to 16 weeks to give more people at least some level of antibody protection against COVID-19.

A U.K. study published Thursday suggests that waiting up to 12 weeks betweenfirst and second Pfizer doses could actually bebeneficial.

A study led by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with PublicHealthEngland found that antibodies against the virus were three-and-a-half times higher in those who had the second shot after three monthscompared with those who had it after a three-week interval.

In the fall once vaccine coverage is more widespreadand 75 per cent of all eligible Canadians have had the two necessary doses restrictions on higher education, indoor sports and family gatherings can be dismantled, said Health Minister Patty Hajdu.

"We should be able to do more activities indoors with people outside our household," she said. "More people need to be vaccinated so we can ease restrictions."

Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Canada's vaccination campaign will get a big boost next week when Pfizerdelivers more shots than originally planned.

A total of 4.5 million mRNA shots 3.4 million from Pfizer, 1.1 million from Moderna are now set to arrive before the Victoria Day long weekend.

"Weare continuing negotiations with our suppliers to accelerate deliveriesso that the provinces and territories can get vaccines into the arms of Canadians as rapidly as possible," Anand said.

Canada received 665,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine Thursday. Those shots likelywill be earmarked for people whoalready have had a first dose of this product, Tam said.

"Ithink obviously there may be less people who would take up the AstraZenecavaccine as the seconddose, but is it important to still have that option right now," she said.

Most provinces have announced they will temporarilysuspendthe use of the AstraZenecavaccine because of the risk of vaccine-inducedthrombotic thrombocytopenia(VITT).