How long do you think it will be before Canadians reach safe Covid vaccination levels?

[Babsy]

We will be at this for a very long time at this rate...

That is my concern.

I would like to see a percentage of doses given, and the percent of population. I'd also like to know the "plan" for getting everyone done. I realize it's probably a work in progress, but it would be nice to have some idea of what's going on to help with expectations. I can wait until Sept, but I'd rather have it by April.

Exactly!

Sounds like Trudeau and the premiers will discuss it this week to really get the ball rolling. Where I am high risk population and front line workers are getting Moderna now and the general population will start getting it in March. Hopefully that combined with various lockdowns happening now will cause new cases to slow and be able to start opening up this world again

I really hope so.

Even in the 'country wide lockdown' from last Spring, it was different from each province. Here in BC we had more open than other provinces even in our lockdown. So it won't ever be like the UK, esp since it's such a small land mass with a dense population compared to Canada.

That is true. The situation is very different in different provinces. However, the danger is real everywhere.

https://www.omnicalculator.com/health/vaccine-queue-ca
I saw this mentioned in a news article. Not official of course but interesting perhaps?

definitely interesting

 

[NewYKRunner]

Have any of you seen covid19tracker.ca? You can track vaccinations in Canada with it. Has numbers and percentages.

 

[bcwife76]

Have any of you seen covid19tracker.ca? You can track vaccinations in Canada with it. Has numbers and percentages.

Yes I look at this page probably 2 or 3 times a day!

 

[Raimiette]

I'm trying to remain optimistic. The PM keeps touting that by September everyone who wants a vaccine should have them so I would think that means we can get back to some semblance of real life in the summer. I'm hopeful that with rapid testing, plus the vaccines, things will be (relatively) back to normal by then. We will probably still have to social distance and wear masks but I would hope everything will be opened back up and travel can resume.

 

[NewYKRunner]

I'm trying to remain optimistic. The PM keeps touting that by September everyone who wants a vaccine should have them so I would think that means we can get back to some semblance of real life in the summer. I'm hopeful that with rapid testing, plus the vaccines, things will be (relatively) back to normal by then. We will probably still have to social distance and wear masks but I would hope everything will be opened back up and travel can resume.

I hope once the at-risk population is vaccinated that the serious cases will decline and that will be enough to reduce restrictions. To me it seems excessive to try to completely stop all cases, just need to make it significantly less lethal. I know this can be a sensitive subject and mean no offence to anybody.

 

[mshanson3121]

Okay this is a question a friend asked me today, and I'm honestly not sure the answer:

What good is achieving "herd immunity" vaccination rates when (if) these vaccines don't actually prevent us from spreading it?

Currently, it looks like the only person the vaccine helps is the one getting it. It just stops them from developing symptoms, but they can still spread it to everyone else around them.

So even if we get 75% of the population vaccinated, what good will that actually do as far as slowing the spread?

 

[NewYKRunner]

That’s my point. We haven’t eradicated the common cold or seasonal flu which is still dangerous to some. The Covid vaccine just lessens our symptoms if we do get it - so our body can learn how to fight it safely.

 

[damo]

I hope once the at-risk population is vaccinated that the serious cases will decline and that will be enough to reduce restrictions. To me it seems excessive to try to completely stop all cases, just need to make it significantly less lethal. I know this can be a sensitive subject and mean no offence to anybody.

Yes. If we can reduce mortality and the stress on the health care system, I think we can carry on.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Okay this is a question a friend asked me today, and I'm honestly not sure the answer:

What good is achieving "herd immunity" vaccination rates when (if) these vaccines don't actually prevent us from spreading it?

Currently, it looks like the only person the vaccine helps is the one getting it. It just stops them from developing symptoms, but they can still spread it to everyone else around them.

So even if we get 75% of the population vaccinated, what good will that actually do as far as slowing the spread?

The point is that for the few who can't get the vaccine, if they get sick with Covid, we will be prepared, medically to take care of them, as the majority of the population will not be getting that sick.

 

[mshanson3121]

The point is that for the few who can't get the vaccine, if they get sick with Covid, we will be prepared, medically to take care of them, as the majority of the population will not be getting that sick.

I understand that aspect. My question was specifically about transmission... by the sounds of things the vaccine really isn't going to slow transmission, which is what I think a lot of people were banking on.

 

[quandrea]

I understand that aspect. My question was specifically about transmission... by the sounds of things the vaccine really isn't going to slow transmission, which is what I think a lot of people were banking on.

The more people vaccinated, the fewer hosts for transmission, thus slower spread.

 

[mshanson3121]

The more people vaccinated, the fewer hosts for transmission, thus slower spread.

But in order for that to happen, there has to be immunity. Does the vaccine actually give immunity to the recipient? Or does it just protect them from developing symptoms? That's what I'm not clear on, since they're saying you can still transmit.

 

[quandrea]

But in order for that to happen, there has to be immunity. Does the vaccine actually give immunity to the recipient? Or does it just protect them from developing symptoms? That's what I'm not clear on, since they're saying you can still transmit.

It gives immunity. People in the trials built antibodies which in turn offer immunity. The immune response from the vaccine is actually stronger than contracting the illness itself.

From the CDC:
Will a COVID-19 vaccination protect me from getting sick with COVID-19?
Yes. COVID-19 vaccination works by teaching your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, and this protects you from getting sick with COVID-19.

 

[Babsy]

But in order for that to happen, there has to be immunity. Does the vaccine actually give immunity to the recipient? Or does it just protect them from developing symptoms? That's what I'm not clear on, since they're saying you can still transmit.

they KNOW that it prevents you from getting sick
they still don't know if, after being vaccinated, you can catch the disease and be asymptomatic, thereby able to spread the disease

even if you can still get Covid after being vaccinated, you will still be less likely to spread the disease if you are not coughing, etc - or, so it would seem to me, even though I don't know that for sure

it is a big deal to people with compromised immune systems and co-morbidities to be able to feel confident that catching this isn't a death sentence

once the at risk populations are vaccinated and most of the population has the vaccine, the amount of illness should be drastically reduced allowing the health care system to take care of the. rest

All that said, I expect masks to be with us for a long time......they really do reduce the spread of airborne illness.

 

[Gigi22]

Veering a bit OT here. Anyone else notice they are catching fewer colds this year? Just saying, frequent hand-washing, and mask wearing seems to be keeping me generally healthier this winter. I got the flu shot too,

 

[mshanson3121]

they KNOW that it prevents you from getting sick
they still don't know if, after being vaccinated, you can catch the disease and be asymptomatic, thereby able to spread the disease

Okay that's what I had heard too (and my friend), and hence why when she asked me, I really wasn't sure what to say. I think we're all hoping that it greatly reduces the spread, we just don't know yet.

 

[mshanson3121]

Veering a bit OT here. Anyone else notice they are catching fewer colds this year? Just saying, frequent hand-washing, and mask wearing seems to be keeping me generally healthier this winter. I got the flu shot too,

So... at the risk of sounding superstitious... I don't want to answer this question... the whole "knock on wood" thing and all LOL.

But, there has been discussion among health professionals about the very low rates of influenza transmission this year, and they feel our Covid measures are also helping to protect against influenza.

 

[NewYKRunner]

Veering a bit OT here. Anyone else notice they are catching fewer colds this year? Just saying, frequent hand-washing, and mask wearing seems to be keeping me generally healthier this winter. I got the flu shot too,

unfortunately, no as we have two younger kids in school. What we did notice, was it was more sinus related and not in the chest. Assuming due to kids and people staying home with Covid related symptoms, but not when they have sniffles, etc.

 

[hdrolfe]

Veering a bit OT here. Anyone else notice they are catching fewer colds this year? Just saying, frequent hand-washing, and mask wearing seems to be keeping me generally healthier this winter. I got the flu shot too,

Aren't the measures we are taking to prevent the spread of COVID similar to those used to prevent the spread of other flus? Like the Spanish Flu? So I would hope it's going to have the effect as well... Between the hand washing, mask wearing, sanitization of carts at the store, and just generally not getting near other people, it should help.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Once we are allowed to travel again, I think I will always wear a mask on a plane, cruise terminal, etc. It just seems like a smart thing to do to minimize germs.