There's budding optimism that the end of the pandemic could be in sight - Ottawa Citizen

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That diversity increases the likelihood of one or more successful vaccine, Bernstein said.

“We have got what we wanted — a diverse portfolio of vaccines based on different platforms. We have now signed those deals and there are more coming.”

Bernstein noted that Canada has among the lowest rates of vaccine hesitancy in the industrialized world and high trust in the health system. It also has a good track record of distributing and administering vaccines through the annual influenza vaccine campaign, all of which bode well for getting vaccines into Canadian arms once they are approved.

But his optimism about vaccine development is clouded by concerns about the fair distribution of those vaccines around the world, especially to parts of the developing world.

Canada is among countries that have contributed to international efforts to make sure poorer countries have quick access to COVID-19 vaccines when they are available.

But Bernstein said Canada must do more. He suggests buying equal amounts of vaccine for poorer countries as for Canadians.

“If you think of the pandemic as a house fire, say a grease fire in your kitchen, it spreads really quickly. If you want to make sure you put the fire out, it has to be out in every room in your house. If any embers are burning, it will flare up.”

The pandemic began with just one case, he notes, and has spread to millions.

“Unless we get rid of it everywhere, not just in Canada, we have not got rid of it. Say we don’t choose to buy vaccines for Africa or the Caribbean, is nobody going to travel? It is in our selfish interest to get rid of it and it’s also the right thing to do.”

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vb3R0YXdhY2l0aXplbi5jb20vbmV3cy9sb2NhbC1uZXdzL2luLXRoZS1taWRzdC1vZi1wYW5kZW1pYy1wYW5pYy1zb21ldGhpbmctbmV3LW9wdGltaXNt0gGNAWh0dHBzOi8vb3R0YXdhY2l0aXplbi5jb20vbmV3cy9sb2NhbC1uZXdzL2luLXRoZS1taWRzdC1vZi1wYW5kZW1pYy1wYW5pYy1zb21ldGhpbmctbmV3LW9wdGltaXNtL3djbS80OGVmZDgxMS00ODQwLTQ0ZWItOTk0YS03ZGY3MTVkMDY1OTkvYW1wLw?oc=5

2020-09-02 10:17:37Z
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