67 new COVID-19 cases in Interior Health; 446 in BC | iNFOnews

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that residents 65 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

This extension follows recommendations Tuesday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We are doing everything we can to bring more vaccine into the state".

California has been criticized for a faltering rollout of the vaccine, so far giving out only around a quarter of the doses the state has received, even as staggering numbers of residents are infected and hospitalized with the virus.

"I'm sure the good people of Santa Clara County can vaccinate two or three times more people than the state ever imagined", Supervisor Mike Wasserman said. For those still waiting he added, "To those not yet eligible for vaccines, your turn is coming". DeWine said earlier this month only about 40 percent of nursing home employees are getting the first shot.

Delaying the second dose slightly could give first-dose protection to millions more Canadians sooner.

"We have a problem with Covid-19 transmission at worksites across the entire county", said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

The milestone came as the United States set a new record for coronavirus deaths in one day, with 4,336 fatalities on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally.

In Canada, British Columbia is looking at issuing the second doses 35 days later, Alberta is aiming for 42 days, and Quebec is delaying the second dose but hasn't provided a specific timeline. Additionally, there are 368 individuals now hospitalized with the virus, 72 of whom are in intensive care.

Neither Pfizer nor Moderna endorse the idea of waiting for the second dose.

Public health officials say so far no US state has used up its supply of the vaccines.

Health care workers and long-term care residents are still the highest priority for receiving the vaccine, the statement said, but the demand for the vaccine is outweighing the supply.

In two weeks, the federal government also plans to change vaccine allocation to be based on how quickly states are administering doses.

There are 70,946 individuals who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 638 individuals who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.