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December 14, 2020 – Federal and provincial update on the COVID-19 pandemic
Here is an update on recent decisions and actions by the Canadian and Québec governments in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vaccination begins
Today, Canada’s minister of Health, Patty Hajdu, and Québec’s minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, were joyful as they accounted the vaccination of the first Canadians against COVID-19. Residents at two residential and long-term care centres in Montréal and Québec City received the very first immunization injections.
“I’m a pretty calm person by nature, but today, I’m very excited. This is a big day,” said Minister Dubé. He stressed that this is the first step in a large-scale, nine-month marathon against COVID-19. “I’d said that we were getting closer to a vaccine. Now, we’re receiving the first doses and the vaccination campaign began today,” he said.
Canada’s Minister Hajdu reiterated that this is very good news, but Canadians will have to continue to protect themselves against COVID-19 for several months to come.
Some 5,000 people will be vaccinated over the next few days in Montréal and Québec City with this first batch of the vaccine. Over 50,000 people will be vaccinated by January 4.
Voluntary basis
Minister Christian Dubé reiterated that the vaccination is being given on a voluntary basis and that the process will elicit broad participation among the population and front-line workers.
All Canadians should be vaccinated by September 2021.