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A 5th COVID vaccine approved in Canada Health Canada announced Thursday it has given the green light to Novavax, the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine approved in Canada. The vaccine was approved as part of a two-dose regimen for Canadians 18 and older and marks the fifth COVID-19 vaccine to get the go-ahead in the country. Speaking during a technical briefing Thursday, Canada's chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma said the Novavax vaccine was shown to have 90 per cent effectiveness at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100 per cent effectiveness at preventing severe disease. In February 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the government had secured a tentative deal with Novavax to allow the National Research Council-owned Royalmount facility in Montreal to produce its vaccine once it gets approved for use in Canada However, the first shipment of the drug expected in March will be from India's Serum Institute, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said during the briefing. She added that there's no clear timeline for when production of the vaccine could begin in Canada. 
Canada exiting ‘crisis phase’ of pandemic Dr. Theresa Tam addressed Canadians again on Friday — this time to outline the latest federal modelling data. During the update, she said Canada is moving out of the “crisis phase” of the pandemic as the Omicron wave wanes, and after the population has built up “significant” levels of immunity over the last two years. Tam cited high vaccination levels and treatment options that have recently become available. “We should be able to manage the pandemic going into the future without some of the more stringent or restrictive public health measures,” Tam said. “They may still be needed if there was a very severe variant that escapes vaccine immunity, for example. So we don’t want to completely reduce all of our capacities.” The modelling did show a possible resurgence in cases with the easing of public health measures. However, the impact on hospitalizations, which has been a key metric for guiding policy, is forecast to be lower. Global News’ Aya Al-Hakim in this story, Canada leaving 'crisis phase' of pandemic but resurgence possible as measures ease, Tam says. 
Q: With COVID restrictions starting to ease, should I feel comfortable including my young, unvaccinated child in indoor activities like eating at a restaurant? I worry Omicron is still a threat. “Most kids do well with COVID-19 infection, but some will still end up in hospital, and there isn't a great way to predict who will have more severe illness,” said Ayisha Kurji, a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at the University of Saskatchewan. “As things open up, Omicron will still be present. Anytime we share airspace inside, especially without a mask, our risk of getting COVID-19 goes up, especially if it's in places where vaccines aren't required,” she added, noting vaccines help decrease severity and reduce transmission, which does provide some safety. Ultimately, though, Kurji said there's no right answer as to what to do with your kids and your family. But there are some considerations to make when deciding, such as whether anyone in your family is at higher risk if they get Omicron, what the local hospitalization numbers are, and your own risk tolerance. “You can choose to minimize your risk by wearing a mask anyway, keeping times where you are inside and maskless low, and (being) with people who have similar risk tolerance to you,” Kurji said. “And of course making sure that everyone who is eligible is vaccinated and boosted.” | 
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