Health Minister Tyler Shandro is making an announcement in Edmonton this morning, but I will monitor for his response to questions surrounding changes to COVID-19 response in Alberta. Watch live here: 660citynews.com/video/ @660NEWS #yyc #yeg #ableg
Moving on to the questions now. @CTVMarkVillani asks the doctors in attendance if they were consulted on the plan announced yesterday.
Dr. Joffe with AHS says he was "aware of the discussions" but it was mostly the public health teams involved.
Dr. Joffe with AHS says he was "aware of the discussions" but it was mostly the public health teams involved.
Shandro jumps in to supplement, says CMOH Dr. Hinshaw and her team were primarily in charge of it, his understanding is the work was done by her and her office to bring the proposal forward.
Followup, what made the province think this was a good idea?
Shandro says for weeks and months they have been discussing how to move from a pandemic response to endemic. Says vaccination numbers have led them to making the decision (Alberta is among the lowest in vax rate).
Shandro says for weeks and months they have been discussing how to move from a pandemic response to endemic. Says vaccination numbers have led them to making the decision (Alberta is among the lowest in vax rate).
Shandro says we will "live with (the) virus in our community" and it is preventable by vaccines. Says the 65% coverage of second doses among eligible people is a "milestone".
Shandro says he encourages different opinions in the medical community, but he also thinks Hinshaw deserves "deference" and the work should be "commended".
He knows some folks will have questions but he thinks they have done this in a thoughtful manner.
He knows some folks will have questions but he thinks they have done this in a thoughtful manner.
Shandro says it was "irresponsible" for people to target Dr. Hinshaw's work on the file, and again says that she should be commended.
Followup, how do you assure parents that kids will be safe in schools?
Shandro says it's the "deference and the credibility and the independence" of Dr. Hinshaw that should be trusted. Says this is based on science and data.
Shandro says it's the "deference and the credibility and the independence" of Dr. Hinshaw that should be trusted. Says this is based on science and data.
Shandro says some people have had difficulty believing this, but he wants to assure that the decisions are based in science and data.
.@StaySaif asks about calls for mandatory vaccinations in post-secondary institutions.
Shandro says he would have concerns about people being compelled to disclose vaccination status. Says he would have concerns about schools as well.
Shandro says he would have concerns about people being compelled to disclose vaccination status. Says he would have concerns about schools as well.
Followup question was about the children's hospital, timelines when it can open.
Next question (missed the name sorry), since the COVID-19 measures basically eliminated the flu, what have you learned here?
Shandro says COVID was a new virus and they took extraordinary steps to protect people, but now that we have vaccines the measures aren't as necessary.
Shandro says COVID was a new virus and they took extraordinary steps to protect people, but now that we have vaccines the measures aren't as necessary.
Shandro also points out how the vast majority of cases and hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated right now.
Says Dr. Hinshaw is "excited" to move back to other important files on her desk.
Says Dr. Hinshaw is "excited" to move back to other important files on her desk.
Followup, you keep saying "endemic", so how do you actually convince unvaccinated people to get vaccinated?
Shandro says you definitely need to get vaccinated. He hopes the fact most cases are among the unvaccinated will be enough to convince them.
Shandro says you definitely need to get vaccinated. He hopes the fact most cases are among the unvaccinated will be enough to convince them.
.@TimmCTV asks about schools, concern about fall return and what's your message to parents -- especially with kids under 12.
Shandro says the dangers of the virus are much smaller for people under that age. Hopes older people in households get vaccinated.
Shandro says the dangers of the virus are much smaller for people under that age. Hopes older people in households get vaccinated.
Adds that stats showed how transmission among youth was much less significant. Again says decision was based on science and data.
Followup, where would the data have to go for you to reintroduce the measures?
Shandro says it's about measuring the adverse effects of the virus among people ineligible for the vaccine. If that got worse, maybe some more measures would be put back in place.
Shandro says it's about measuring the adverse effects of the virus among people ineligible for the vaccine. If that got worse, maybe some more measures would be put back in place.
Next question from Global reporter on the floor, where did this data come from?
Shandro says you should ask Dr. Hinshaw. But he says she has had close conversations with other counterparts, and he thinks they know that we're getting to a point of just living with the virus.
Shandro says you should ask Dr. Hinshaw. But he says she has had close conversations with other counterparts, and he thinks they know that we're getting to a point of just living with the virus.
He says the USA is different due to differences in vaccine coverage, and higher case rates are related to that vaccine coverage. Hinshaw determined that 65% of eligible people is appropriate enough for us.
Followup, some things like mandatory isolation convinced people to get the shot, removing that may reduce incentive?
Shandro says he's not trying to avoid the question, but says their focus has always been on severe outcomes and there will be more transmission but vaccines help.
Shandro says he's not trying to avoid the question, but says their focus has always been on severe outcomes and there will be more transmission but vaccines help.
.@ByJamesKeller says Alberta is the only place doing this, how can you say this is based on evidence?
Shandro says other countries are different than us, so they looked at responses to different pandemics. Picked and chose different milestones to focus on.
Shandro says other countries are different than us, so they looked at responses to different pandemics. Picked and chose different milestones to focus on.
Shandro thinks other provinces think this is the "inevitable next step", says Alberta is leading the way on the endemic response and Alberta has "led the way" throughout the pandemic.
Shandro says we have been "so pro-mask" in this province. Other provinces will be going in the same direction.
Followup, again we cannot point to other jurisdictions showing this approach will work. Alberta is an outlier in lower vax rates as well. How are you sure this won't backfire?
Shandro says this hasn't been the first pandemic ever, and Hinshaw's team looked at other examples.
Shandro says this hasn't been the first pandemic ever, and Hinshaw's team looked at other examples.
.@charlesrusnell jumps in for another followup, will you send your kids to school unmasked?
Yes, says Shandro. He says he is deferential to the credibility of Dr. Hinshaw.
Yes, says Shandro. He says he is deferential to the credibility of Dr. Hinshaw.
That's all folks, thanks for following along and have a safe day.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
