Two U-S agencies are recommending a pause in the administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in order to investigate six reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.
The six cases under investigation involved women between the ages of 18 and 48. One of the patients died and another is in critical condition. There’s been no word so far from Health Canada on whether it intends to pause use of the shot in light of the suspension in the U.S. NACI says cases identified have been primarily in women under the age of 55 years but notes cases in men have also been reported and have mostly occurred between four and 16 days after administration.
British Columbia’s provincial health officer is calling for patience as the government continues to vaccinate workers in COVID-19 hot spots. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the program is focusing on high-risk workers in the highest-spread locations, including firefighters, police, teachers and day care workers. She says like the age-based program, not everyone will get their shots at once, but everyone will have their turn. It was also announced yesterday, People aged 55 and older can register online and by phone, according to Health Minister Adrian Dix. By Wednesday, people 50 and older will be eligible, and those 45 years and up can register starting Friday. Starting April 19, registration will be open to those 40 and older. British Columbia recorded 3-thousand-289 new cases over three days yesterday and 18 more deaths.
More British Columbians can start registering to get their COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday. People aged 55 and older can register online and by phone, according to Health Minister Adrian Dix. By Wednesday, people 50 and older will be eligible, and those 45 years and up can register starting Friday. Starting April 19, registration will be open to those 40 and older. Once you’ve registered, you’ll be invited to book your appointment when it’s your age cohort’s turn to do so. Health Canada anticipates a total of 36.5 million doses from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India by June 30. British Columbia recorded 3-thousand-289 new cases of COVID-19 over three days yesterday and 18 more deaths. Henry stressed that people should not be travelling around the province as B.C. wrestles with its third wave, and that British Columbians should only socialize with a consist group of people outdoors.
Police are asking people to avoid the area of Gilley Avenue and Kingsway in South Burnaby while they search for a suspect in a stabbing. Burnaby RCMP say a woman was stabbed in the leg Monday evening and has been taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. They believe this was a targeted incident and the victim and suspect are known to one another, but the suspect remains at large and they are asking everyone to stay away from the area for the time being. and if anyone has any information regarding the incident to reach out to the RCMP
The R-C-M-P says officers “coralled” four Mustang sports cars caught street racing in Surrey earlier this month. Police say an officer spotted the cars travelling at about 135 kilometres per hour in a 60 kilometre zone on the evening of April 4th. The Mounties say it’s fortunate the Mustangs were rounded up before anyone was hurt. Each of the drivers was handed a ticket for excessive speeding and all four vehicles were impounded for at least seven days for street racing and excessive speeding.
BC’s COVID-19 case count has seen a slight decline — dropping from nearly 1,300 cases for several days — down to 873 today. Still, Premier John Horgan is asking residents to continue putting their “shoulder to the wheel” for a while longer to get through the third wave of the pandemic that saw a record 120 people in intensive care units yesterday. B-C has formally extended its provincial state of emergency to April 27th.
Burnaby R-C-M-P say 46 people were arrested in a four-day operation targeting shoplifting at Metrotown. Police say the Boost and Bust Initiative last month also led to the recovery of 48-hundred dollars worth of stolen property. They say 27 of those arrested are facing charges as a result of the operation aimed at disrupting prolific offenders. The same initiative last year resulted in eight arrests and the recovery of three-thousand dollars worth of property.
Health officials across Canada and the U-S are dealing with rising fear over rare complications linked to a pair of COVID-19 vaccines. Quebec’s health ministry today announced that a woman whose age was not specified suffered a blood clot after getting the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. She is now recovering at her home. In the U-S, the pause button has been hit on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine over similar concerns after six people reported blood clots.
Vancouver’s annual report on its regulation of short-term rentals, such as Air-B-N-B, shows thousands of landlords have moved to long-term rentals. The city brought in regulations on short-term rentals in 2018 in an effort to boost long-term rental stock in Vancouver. The report says the city issued over 12 thousand 500 business licences for long-term rentals in 2020, compared with just 297 the year before.
Fresh concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety are emerging as the third wave of the pandemic swells across Canada. Canada is reporting its first case of vaccine-induced blood clots linked to an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced at the Serum Institute of India. The report of a Quebec woman who developed a clot is the only case out of 185-thousand doses administered in the province so far — making it an extremely rare event. Meanwhile, the United States is putting the brakes on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following six reports of blood clots there. Officials on both sides of the border continue to assure people that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines far outweigh the risks.
A man who allegedly pushed a pregnant woman to the ground in what police called an “unprovoked” assault in Surrey is now facing charges in connection with the incident. According to Surrey RCMP, the incident took place on March 23, after the woman visited a bank on 102 Avenue and King George Boulevard, shortly after 11:30 am. Police said an unknown man approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground. The woman received minor physical injuries and was taken to hospital.