5:43 p.m. ET, April 23, 2021
Canada's prime minister receives AstraZeneca vaccine as the country's Covid-19 case count rises
By CNN's Paula Newton
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives a dose of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Ottawa, Canada, on Friday, April 23.
Adrian Wyld/CP/Bloomberg/ Getty Images
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received his first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine Friday as the country’s Covid-19 case count rises to record levels.
Trudeau went to a local pharmacy with his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, where they both received the vaccine, Trudeau saying he was "very excited" and gave a thumbs up when it was done.
Trudeau was also told after the vaccination that his second dose was not yet scheduled, and he would receive an email notice to schedule a follow-up shot. Canada’s vaccine rollout has suffered from supply issues and most second doses are being delayed by up to four months.
Some context: About an hour after Trudeau received his vaccine, Canada’s expert advisory panel updated its guidance on AstraZeneca, saying it should be offered to all Canadians 30 or older. It had previously recommended it be administered only to those 55 or older although some provinces have already administered doses to those 40 and older.
The panel also indicated that mRNA vaccines, either Pfizer or Moderna, should be "preferentially offered" and that a complete series of the AstraZeneca vaccine should be used if an individual does not wish to wait for an mRNA vaccine.
Currently in most Canadian provinces, people aged 55 and younger have not yet been prioritized for an mRNA vaccine unless they are essential workers or they qualify in other categories like caregivers.
The news on vaccines came as Canada released new modeling on the impact of new infections in the weeks to come.
Daily case counts, hospitalizations and ICU admissions continue to increase as well as evidence that there is a troubling increase in mortality, now up more than 17% in the last week alone, according to Canada’s public health agency.
Officials also said Friday that extensive restrictions and lockdowns across the country seem that have stalled the growth of the pandemic, although new daily case counts have perhaps plateaued at very high levels.