Prime Minister of Canada receives first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire, received their first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine this Friday at a local Ottawa pharmacy.

After applying the immunizer to your left arm, Trudeau said he felt “very excited” and said he had “waited” for his turn.

“If you are eligible for your vaccine like us, make sure you get your dose as soon as possible” Trudeau appealed to the Canadian public after being inoculated, an act with which he also attempted to instill confidence in vaccination with the AstraZeneca immunizer, according to CTV News.

Trudeau and his wife were told they would receive an email with the date of the second dose.

On another side, This Friday, Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu, was also vaccinated with AstraZeneca at a center in Thunder Bay, Ontario, from where she encouraged the population to be vaccinated.

Hours after Trudeau received the biologic, Canada’s National Immunization Advisory Committee updated its recommendations on the use of AstraZeneca, stressing that it should apply to all Canadians over the age of 30. years – previously it was only recommended for people over 55 -.

Advisors changed their directions on vaccination after reviewing new provincial data on the high level of pandemic risk, according to the CBC.

However, the committee stressed that the injection only makes sense if “the benefits outweigh the risks” associated with the blood clots and stressed that it should only be given to those who have not. of contraindications and on the basis of “individual choice”.

Canada has accumulated more than 1.16 million cases of coronavirus and is close to 24,000 deaths.

The Canadian government has banned direct flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days to help control the spread of new variants of covid-19.

The restriction went into effect Thursday. The move comes after India saw the world’s largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases, with 330,000 new infections.

Public health experts fear that a more contagious strain of the virus is spreading in the country of 1.3 billion people. Countries from Singapore to UK have banned flights from India due to the worsening situation.

Some Canadian provinces have already recorded some cases of the Indian variant. Health Minister Patty Hajdu said India accounted for 20% of the volume of recent air travel to Canada, but more than 50% of all positive tests taken at the border.

“In light of the increased number of COVID-19 cases detected in air passengers arriving in Canada from India and Pakistan, Transport Canada is issuing an Airmen Advisory, or NOTAM, to stop direct passenger air traffic by from these countries ” said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

With a third wave of cases threatening to overwhelm hospitals in major Canadian cities, pressure has mounted on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to act. On Thursday, the leaders of Ontario and Quebec, the country’s two most populous provinces, called on Trudeau to further tighten the rules for travelers at the air and land borders. Opposition politicians have also pressured the government to stop international flights from coronavirus hot spots.

(With information from Europa Press)

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