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Quebec public health is reporting a COVID-19 positivity rate of 21.7 per cent in the run-up to a fall vaccination campaign.
Health Canada has approved two new COVID mRNA vaccines in recent weeks from Moderna and Pfizer targeting the KP.2 subvariant of Omicron. An updated version of Novavax’s vaccine targeting the JN.1 variant has also been approved.
The COVID positivity rate is up from a low of 2.1 per cent, as reported by Quebec’s public health service.
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Quebecers are still dying from COVID, with 48 deaths from the virus reported in the week of Sept. 15, the most recent week with data available. That week also saw 3,882 new cases, bringing the total to 1,492,002 cases and 20,553 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.
There are 1,765 people in Quebec hospitals with or because of COVID infections.
Though the dates of the coming vaccination push have yet to be announced, Quebec’s immunization committee is recommending people from certain vulnerable groups roll up their sleeves. That includes people living in communal environments like CHSLDs, people age 60 and older, people who are immunocompromised, pregnant people, health-care workers and adults living in certain remote areas.
The committee says other people may also get the vaccine but the benefits would be minimal, given the relatively low risk posed to them by the virus.
With files from The Canadian Press.
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