Dr Jennifer Njenga from Canada Home Care Group spent an hour teaching and educating us on the topic Vaccines and You. She covered myths about the vaccines and why you must take the second dose.

1. VACCINES & YOU
CANADA HOMECARE GROUP
Dr Jennifer Njenga MD MPH DRPH & Ebian Ali RN

2. COVID-19 Alberta statistics
◦ 146 Current hospitalizations
◦ 36 Current ICU
◦ 2,331 total deaths
◦ 4101 active cases
◦ 5.47% percent positivity, 7 day average
◦ 80 years average age of death
◦ 5,415,497 total doses of vaccines administered
◦ 76.6% 12+ population who received at least one dose (69.1% - USA, 90% - UK)
◦ 67.4% 12+ population fully vaccinated (58.9% - USA, 75% - UK)
https://www.alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm, by end of day Aug 11, 2021

3. Stage 3 of the Open for Summer Plan
◦ Starting July 29
• Close contacts of an individual with COVID-19 will no longer be legally required to quarantine,
unless directed to do so by local public health.
• Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms and confirmed cases will still be required to isolate.
• Hotel rooms for isolation will be available on a reduced basis.
◦ Starting August 16
• The 10-day isolation period following a positive test result will no longer be mandatory, but will
be strongly recommended.
• Isolation hotels and quarantine support will no longer be available, as these requirements will
be removed.
https://www.alberta.ca/index.aspx

4. Alberta Covid-19 Updates
o There are currently COVID-19 outbreaks at these AHS and Covenant Health acute care facilities.
Edmonton Zone - Royal Alexandra Hospital, one reported death
South Zone - Medicine Hat Regional Hospital www.albertahealthservices.ca
o Alberta public health officials reported 550 net new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, marking the second day in a row
the daily case count surpassed the 500 mark.
o The number of known active cases is now up to 4,101 — an increase of 332 since Wednesday's update. It's the first
time total known active cases have been above 4,000 since June 8.
• Calgary zone: 1,698
• Edmonton zone: 955
• South zone: 582
• North zone: 566
• Central zone: 292
• Unknown: 8 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-covid-19-update-1.6139414

5. Alberta Covid-19 Updates
◦ 336 more cases of coronavirus variants of concern have been identified in Alberta. The total of known active variant
cases is up to 3,197 — or about 78 per cent of all known active COVID-19 cases in Alberta.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-covid-19-update-1.6139414
◦ Changes that were scheduled to take effect Monday, Aug 16th will now be delayed until Sept. 27:
• Mandatory masking orders in publicly accessible transit, taxis and ride-shares
• Mandatory isolation for 10 days for those with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result
• Testing at assessment centres for any symptomatic individual
◦ Dr. Hinshaw cited rising hospitalization rates that had exceeded projections by more than 60 per cent.
• 'The inevitable next step': Alberta health minister defends COVID-19 policy changes
◦ The number of COVID-19 patients in Alberta hospitals has grown from 91 at the start of the month, up to 146 as of
Thursday's data report.
◦ The 36 Albertans reported Thursday to be getting COVID-19 care in intensive care units is the highest since June
27. https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-backs-down-on-relaxed-covid-19-measures-pauses-testing-changes-for-6-
weeks-1.5545987
◦ Masks won’t be mandatory in Alberta schools this fall, but students and staff will still have to isolate if they test positive
for COVID-19 or are symptomatic.

6. SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
◦ - Evidence of increase in transmissibility
◦ - More severe disease (e.g., increased hospitalizations or deaths)
◦ - Significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated
during previous infection or vaccination
◦ - Reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines
◦ - Diagnosis detection failures

7. Cumulative number of cases involving variants of concern
(VOC), as of July 8, 2021(Government of Canada)
Location Alpha Beta Gamma Delta
Canada 219,811 1,968 16,367 3,053
Alberta 45,388 158 2,746 607
British Columbia 11,144 143 8,326 1,036
Saskatchewan 6,476 10 293 125

8. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
◦ WHO Label: Alpha
◦ Pango Lineage: B.1.1.7
◦ GISAID clade: GRY
◦ Nextstrain clade: 201 (V1) Lilly and the Government of Canada
◦ Treatments: Treatments are effective against this variant. Bamlanivimab (Lilly and the Government of Canada) and
Remdesivir, an antiviral drug were approved by Health Canada
◦ First identified: United Kingdom, Sep 2020
◦ WHO Label: Beta
◦ Pango lineage: B.1.351, B.1.351.2, V.1.351.3
◦ GISAID clade: GH/501Y.V2
◦ Nexstrain clade: 20H (V2)
◦ Certain monoclonal antibody treatments are less effective against this variant
◦ First identified: South Africa, May 2020

9. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
WHO Label: Gamma
◦ Pango Lineages: P
.1, P
.1.1, P
.1.2
◦ GISAID clade: GR/501Y.V3
◦ Nextstrain clade: 20J (V3)
◦ Certain monoclonal antibody treatments are less effective against this variant
◦ First identified: Brazil, Nov 2020
WHO Label: Delta
Pango Lineages: B.1.617.2, AY.1, AY.2, AY.3
GISAID clade: G/478K.V1
Nextstrain clade: 21A
Treatments: Certain monoclonal antibody treatments are less effective against this variant
First identified: India, Oct 2020
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus//2019-ncov/variants/variant-info.html#Concern

10. Delta Variant
• The Delta variant is highly more contagious, nearly twice as contagious as previous variants.
• Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness and death than previous
strains in unvaccinated persons.
• Unvaccinated people remain the greatest concern
• Although breakthrough infections happen much less often than infections in unvaccinated
people, individuals infected with the Delta variant, including fully vaccinated people with
symptomatic breakthrough infections, can transmit it to others.
• Fully vaccinated people with Delta variant breakthrough infections can spread the virus to
others. However, vaccinated people appear to be infectious for a shorter period

11. Vaccine effectiveness and protection against
SARS Covid-19 VOCs
◦ Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines offer protection against infection and severe
outcomes with variants.
◦ Effectiveness after one dose of vaccine was notably lower among persons with the delta
variant (30.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 25.2 to 35.7) than among those with the alpha
variant (48.7%; 95% CI, 45.5 to 51.7); the results were similar for both vaccines.
◦ With the BNT162b2 (Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the effectiveness of two doses was 93.7% (95%
CI, 91.6 to 95.3) among persons with the alpha variant and 88.0% (95% CI, 85.3 to 90.1)
among those with the delta variant.
◦ With the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, the effectiveness of two doses was 74.5% (95% CI, 68.4
to 79.4) among persons with the alpha variant and 67% (95% CI, 61.3 to 71.8) among those
with the delta variant.

12. 3rd dose of Covid-19 Vaccine
◦ The Quebec government is offering an extra dose of mRNA vaccine to people who want to
travel to countries that don't recognize their vaccination status, (those who received the
Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine).
◦ Some countries are also currently mulling the recommendation and possible requirement of a
third vaccine dose, including France, Britain and Finland.
◦ The co-founder of Moderna says a regular booster shot will ‘almost certainly’ be needed to
increase protection against COVID-19.
◦ Israel’s prime minister has announced that the country would offer a coronavirus booster shot
to those people over 60 who have already been vaccinated.
◦ “We are particularly watching evidence on the need for a booster for people with weaker
immune systems because of old age or existing health conditions,” says Alberta Health
spokesman Tom McMillan.

13. 3rd dose of COVID-19 Vaccine
◦ The World Health Organization has asked the world’s richest countries to delay rolling out
booster shots to their populations before at least 10% of the world is vaccinated.
◦ US disputes WHO call to delay Covid booster shots to help poorer nations.
◦ 30% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 15.5% is
fully vaccinated. 4.46 billion doses have been administer globally, and 38.57 million are now
administer each day. Only 1.1% of people in low-income countries have received at least one
dose. https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
◦ COVAX is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi and the
World Health Organization (WHO), alongside key delivery partner UNICEF
◦ Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and to
guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
◦ COVAX has so far shipped over 190 million COVID-19 vaccines to 138 participants.

14. Myths & Facts Re: Covid-19
Vitamin and mineral supplements cure COVID-19
Fact: Micronutrients, such as vitamins D and C and zinc, are critical for a well-functioning immune
system and play a vital role in promoting health and nutritional well-being. There is currently no
guidance on the use of micronutrient supplements as a treatment of COVID-19.
The Covid-19 virus is transmitted while swimming
Fact: Water or swimming does not transmit the COVID-19 virus
◦ The COVID-19 virus does not transmit through water while swimming. However, the virus spreads
between people when someone has close contact with an infected person.
The prolonged use of medical masks causes CO2 intoxication and oxygen deficiency.
FACT: The prolonged use of medical masks* when properly worn, DOES NOT cause CO2 intoxication
nor oxygen deficiency. While wearing a medical mask, make sure it fits properly and that it is tight
enough to allow you to breathe normally. Do not re-use a disposable mask and always change it
as soon as it gets damp.

15. Myths & Facts Re: Covid-19
There is a link between 5G mobile networks and the spread of COVID-19
FACT: 5G mobile networks DO NOT spread COVID-19
◦ Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many
countries that do not have 5G mobile networks.
◦ COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or
speaks. People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their eyes,
mouth or nose.
The Covid-19 Vaccines make our body magnetic, due to microchips that are part of th
vaccine.
FACT: Vaccines do not contain microchips but ingredients that equip us with antibodies against
the virus

16. Myths & Facts Re: Covid-19
 Covid-19 vaccines and masks contain the “mark of the beast,” a reference to an apocalyptic
passage from the Book of Revelation that Christians will be tested by the Antichrist and asked to
put a mark on their bodies.
FACT: The Covid-19 vaccines contain ingredients that equip us with antibodies against the virus.
3 types of masks:
Face masks: a mask, with or without a face shield that covers the user’s nose and mouth and may or
may not meet fluid barrier or filtration efficiency levels. Made with polypropylene
Surgical masks: a mask that covers the user’s nose and mouth and provides a physical barrier to fluids
and particulate materials. Made with non-woven fabric.
Respirators, including N95s and surgical N95s, filter at least 95% of airborne particles. Made with
non-woven material such as wool felt, fiberglass or polypropylene.
www.fda.gov

17. Other News Re: Covid-19
◦ Quebec and Manitoba to issue Covid-19 vaccine passports
◦ Alberta will not be issuing Covid-19 vaccine passports
◦ “We’ve been very clear from the beginning that we will not facilitate or accept vaccine passports,”
Kenney told reporters at his annual Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast Monday.
◦ “I believe they would in principle contravene the Health Information Act and also possibly the
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.”
◦ Canada is getting a vaccine passport for international travel, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino
announced on Wednesday. https://globalnews.ca/news/8104692/canada-getting-proof-of-vaccination-passport-for-international-
travel/?utm_medium=Twitter&utm_source=%40globalnews
◦ Those vaccinated fully in the US can show a CDC card
◦ In England, the NHS Covid Pass can be used to show your Covid status. It can be used domestically
and for travel.

18. THANK YOU