Faster vaccines alone could not have stopped third wave: deputy public health officer

Apr 15, 2021 | 9:20 AM

A top federal public health official says a faster vaccine ramp-up alone would likely not have thwarted the third wave of COVID-19 in many parts of the country.

Deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo says vaccines are one tool but maintaining tight health measures is also crucial — especially with more transmissible and dangerous virus variants on the rise.

Njoo made his remarks as Ontario reported a record-high of more than 4,700 new daily infections and 29 more deaths.

Quebec, meanwhile, announced more than 1,500 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 more fatalities.