Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer says it’s amazing to see how far we have come since the pandemic began, with multiple COVID-19 vaccines now available, but at the same time, Dr. Theresa Tam says we have to remain steadfast because of the rise in transmission of the variants of concern.  She notes that there is no cut and dried answer yet as to whether once you have been vaccinated, if you came in contact with the virus, would you still be able to infect others.

However, Dr. Tam says indications are that being vaccinated does reduce the chance of infecting others.
She suggests we are in a third resurgence of COVID-19 in Canada, with an increase in cases and increased hospitalizations because of the variants. Dr. Tam says now is the time to double our efforts to keep everyone safe by following the public health advice, limiting unnecessary travel and getting vaccinated.  She believes now is the most challenging time we have had in the pandemic because we have been staying away from each other for over a year and are getting tired of it, and now the variants are on the rise.

Tam says with vaccinations, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer looks forward to the fall when everyone who wants one has had their two doses of vaccine.