Press "Enter" to skip to content

Tag: Canada

Topic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators

Pushing for a national N95 masking standard

Published September 16, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Peak
Published on:
By Niveja Assalaarachchi

On June 20, the Canadian Standards Association, also known as the CSA Group, released a new draft version of CSA standard Z94.4, which was open to public consultation until August 19. It sets to regulate workplace standards around “the selection, use, and care of respirators.” The CSA Group is a non-profit organization which creates non-legally binding but precedent-setting regulations for professional workplace standards. As reported by DoNoHarm BC, the rule changes would see new nationwide respirator requirements that mandate the use of respirators like N95 masks instead of surgical masks by workers, patients, and visitors in healthcare settings.

The CSA Group’s new draft has received praise from healthcare advocates and workers alike. DoNoHarm BC was one of the leading organizations pushing the public to support and contribute to the CSA Group’s consultation process.

Continue readingPushing for a national N95 masking standard
Comments closed
Topic: anti-vaxxersView all posts for the topic: anti-vaxxers

Video | How Trump’s cuts to the CDC could threaten Canadians’ public health

Published September 13, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has long been a global leader in disease tracking and evidence-based medical guidelines, but recent funding cuts and firings have caused many to wonder whether the institution is still a trusted source. CBC’s Nisha Patel breaks down how some of those changes could put Canadians at risk.

Continue readingVideo | How Trump’s cuts to the CDC could threaten Canadians’ public health
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Smoke from Canada’s wildfires killed nine-year-old Carter Vigh – and 82,000 others around the world

Published September 10, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Guardian
Published on:
By Ajit Niranjan

Amber Vigh had taken the usual precautions when bringing her nine-year-old son, Carter, to summer camp in July 2023. There were no fires near their home in British Columbia, Canada. Her air quality app showed low levels of pollution. She could not smell any smoke.

Carter, a music-loving Lego enthusiast who had asthma, brought along his smiling shark tooth-patterned emergency kit that held an inhaler, allergy pill and EpiPen. When smoke did roll in from the north, Vigh took him indoors.

But at home that evening, Carter began to cough uncontrollably. Vigh and her husband, James, followed the doctors’ checklist – emergency inhaler, drink of water, steroid inhaler – and gave him a bath to cool down. Then, “all of a sudden, he started coughing again like crazy”, said Vigh.

Continue readingSmoke from Canada’s wildfires killed nine-year-old Carter Vigh – and 82,000 others around the world
Comments closed
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Environment Canada expands air alerts as wildfire smoke spreads over B.C.

Published September 5, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Canadian Press / CTV News
Published on:

VANCOUVER — Environment Canada’s special air-quality statements for wildfire smoke have now expanded to cover most of British Columbia, with air quality at its worst possible level in parts of the Fraser Valley.

The alerts advise people to limit or avoid outdoor activity and are now in place for all of B.C. outside of Vancouver Island, the Central and North Coast, Haida Gwaii and about a quarter of the province on its northern edge.

An air-quality warning continues to be in effect in Metro Vancouver, covered by orange smoke haze for a third day.

Continue readingEnvironment Canada expands air alerts as wildfire smoke spreads over B.C.
Comments closed
Topic: budget cutsView all posts for the topic: budget cuts

Public Health Agency of Canada cutting hundreds of jobs

Published September 4, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Josh Pringle

Approximately 320 jobs will be cut at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) as part of a “post pandemic calibration” at the federal department.

The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed to CTV News Ottawa a review of programs will result in job cuts to align department spending with approved funding for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

“As part of PHAC’s post-pandemic recalibration and ongoing efforts to adjust to new salary allocations, the agency must focus resources on government-funded priorities. This means re-prioritizing and streamlining some programs, and in some cases discontinuing work,” a PHAC spokesperson said in an email.

Continue readingPublic Health Agency of Canada cutting hundreds of jobs
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality warnings on B.C.’s South Coast

Published September 3, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Andrew Weichel

Air quality warnings have been issued for much of B.C.’s South Coast, where smoke wafting from wildfires on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border has created hazy skies.

Elevated levels of fine particulate matter have been detected across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley as a result, creating a risk of negative health effects.

The conditions are expected to last “a few days, or until there is a change in the weather,” according to a notice posted on the Metro Vancouver Regional District website on Wednesday.

As of the early afternoon, the smoke had pushed Vancouver to the top of a “most-polluted major city” ranking from IQAir, a Swiss company that develops air quality monitoring systems.

Continue readingWildfire smoke prompts air quality warnings on B.C.’s South Coast
Comments closed
Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Alberta polio survivors fear ‘horrifying’ virus could return

Published September 2, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Global News
Published on:
By Quinn Ohler

Polio, a highly contagious viral infection that can cause paralysis and death, has been eradicated in Canada for decades thanks to widespread vaccination efforts.

There is no cure for polio; it can only be prevented, and doctors warn if vaccine rates continue to decline as they have in recent years, it could open the door to a return of the virus in Canada.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Pat Murray, a polio survivor who contracted the disease at just nine months old.

“It’s heartbreaking.”

Continue readingAlberta polio survivors fear ‘horrifying’ virus could return
Comments closed
Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick

Horizon resumes mandatory masking as respiratory illnesses rise in N.B.

Published September 2, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon

Horizon Health Network has reintroduced mandatory masking in all patient-facing clinical areas in all of its facilities, starting Wednesday, citing a rise in respiratory virus activity.

All health-care workers, patients, social visitors, and designated support people will be required to wear a medical grade face mask, also known as a surgical or procedure mask, at all times in all inpatient units, outpatient/ambulatory care clinics and emergency departments, and any other clinical setting, including waiting areas.

“With this upward trend, and knowing this time of year historically leads to further increase of viral transmission, Horizon is taking a proactive and precautionary measure,” the regional health authority said in a news release Tuesday.

Continue readingHorizon resumes mandatory masking as respiratory illnesses rise in N.B.
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Wildfires are reversing Canada’s progress on improving air quality

Published August 28, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Nicole Mortillaro

It’s hard not to forget the 2023 Canadian wildfire season, when more than 16 million hectares of forest were lost, thousands were displaced and smoke suffocated cities across both Canada and the U.S.

And it turns out Canada experienced its worst air pollution levels that year since 1998, according to a new report released today by the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index (AQLI). At the same time, the report found that pollution levels didn’t change much for the rest of the world in 2023.

If those levels continued for a person’s lifetime, the average Canadian would lose roughly two years of their life expectancy, according to the report.

Efforts have been made around the world, including in Canada, to curb harmful emissions of fine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, also known as PM 2.5. But wildfires are reversing those advances — with serious health consequences.

Continue readingWildfires are reversing Canada’s progress on improving air quality
Comments closed
Topic: RSVView all posts for the topic: RSV

Ontario to expand RSV vaccine availability for seniors 75 and older this fall

Published August 27, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Globe and Mail
Published on:
By Kelly Grant

Beginning this fall, all Ontarians 75 and older will be eligible for a free shot that protects against respiratory syncytial virus.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones is scheduled to announce the expansion of public coverage for RSV vaccines on Wednesday, according to a Ministry of Health release that The Globe and Mail obtained in advance.

Until now, the Ontario government only paid for the RSV vaccine for seniors who were 60 and older and considered high risk, such as transplant recipients, dialysis patients and nursing home residents.

Continue readingOntario to expand RSV vaccine availability for seniors 75 and older this fall
Comments closed
Topic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines

Moderna’s latest COVID-19 vaccine is both approved and ‘made in Canada’

Published August 25, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Global News
Published on:
By Ari Rabinovitch

Health Canada has approved Moderna’s newly updated COVID-19 vaccine — and for the first time, the vaccines will be “made in Canada.”

The company says having the vaccine available from domestic manufacturers and suppliers creates a critical piece of health resilience to “ensure Canada is ready, not just reactive.”

“With this approval, for the first time ever, mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses for Canadians will be made in Canada. That’s a remarkable milestone,” Stefan Raos, general manager at Moderna, says in an emailed statement sent to Global News.

Continue readingModerna’s latest COVID-19 vaccine is both approved and ‘made in Canada’
Comments closed
Topic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines

Health Canada approves updated Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for fall

Published August 22, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Canadian Press
Published on:
By Nicole Ireland

TORONTO – Health Canada has authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and BioNTech and by Moderna for use this respiratory virus season.

Moderna says it will manufacture vaccine doses for the Canadian market in its new facility in Laval, Quebec and syringes will be filled in Cambridge, Ontario.

News releases from both Pfizer and Moderna say the new mRNA shots will target the LP.8.1 variant, a descendant of Omicron that the World Health Organization was monitoring earlier this year.

Continue readingHealth Canada approves updated Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for fall
Comments closed
Topic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines

Moderna Receives Health Canada Approval for Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Variant LP.8.1

Published August 22, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Access Newswire
Published on:
By Moderna

All 2025 pre-filled syringe doses to be made in Canada, marking a domestic production milestone

CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / August 22, 2025 / Moderna announced today that Health Canada has authorized its updated COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, Spikevax®, targeting the SARS-CoV-2 LP.8.1 variant, for individuals aged six months and older. Moderna is on track to deliver the updated vaccine in time for the 2025-2026 vaccination season.

All Spikevax pre-filled syringe (PFS) doses for the Canadian market will now be manufactured domestically, marking the first time Canada’s entire PFS format is produced at home. The drug substance will be produced at Moderna’s new facility in Laval, Quebec, with fill-finish operations completed by Novocol Pharma in Cambridge, Ontario. These Canadian-made doses are expected to be available for this fall.

“This approval is a regulatory milestone and a testament to Canada’s growing leadership in biomanufacturing and public health resilience,” said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. “Thanks to Health Canada’s timely and thorough review, we are proud to supply Spikevax doses to communities across the country, including, for the first time this year, doses produced in Canada.”

Continue readingModerna Receives Health Canada Approval for Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Variant LP.8.1
Comments closed
Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Albertans can get COVID-19 vaccinations for free in B.C.

Published August 21, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Michelle Bellefontaine

Albertans who don’t qualify for free COVID-19 vaccinations in their home province can get one in British Columbia.

B.C.’s Ministry of Health confirmed that detail in response to a query from CBC News. Canadian residents can get vaccinated due to a reciprocal agreement between all provinces and territories.

“Any publicly funded immunization in B.C. can be provided at no cost to any Canadian travelling within the province,” a statement from the ministry said. “This includes providing publicly funded COVID-19 vaccine to people of Alberta.”

Continue readingAlbertans can get COVID-19 vaccinations for free in B.C.
Comments closed
Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Alberta expands COVID-19 shots coverage for health workers, but calls grow for wider access

Published August 20, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Mark Villani

Calls are growing louder in Alberta for the COVID-19 vaccine to be covered free of charge for all residents, following the province’s decision Tuesday to partially reverse its vaccine policy and expand coverage to some health-care workers.

While the move has been welcomed by workers and unions, public health experts and critics say it doesn’t go far enough, leaving many Albertans uncertain about access to the vaccine.

“The government has now taken a step towards admitting that they had the wrong approach,” said Chris Galloway, executive director at Friends of Medicare.

Continue readingAlberta expands COVID-19 shots coverage for health workers, but calls grow for wider access
Comments closed
Topic: tick-borne diseasesView all posts for the topic: tick-borne diseases

Tick-borne Rocky Mountain spotted fever spreading in Canada

Published August 20, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Emily Chung

Quebec has reported a case of the potentially deadly tick-borne disease Rocky Mountain spotted fever that was likely acquired in Ontario or Quebec. The disease was also reported in dogs in Ontario earlier this year.

Here’s what you need to know about preventing, identifying and treating the disease.

Continue readingTick-borne Rocky Mountain spotted fever spreading in Canada
Comments closed
Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Alberta government to cover COVID-19 shots for health-care workers in policy reversal

Published August 19, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Canadian Press
Published on:
By Lisa Johnson

EDMONTON – In a partial policy reversal, Alberta’s government said Tuesday it will cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations for health-care workers.

Maddison McKee, spokesperson to Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange, said in an email that COVID-19 vaccine coverage will be extended to all health-care workers this fall under the first phase of the province’s vaccination rollout.

“Immunization will remain voluntary,” said McKee.

Continue readingAlberta government to cover COVID-19 shots for health-care workers in policy reversal
Comments closed
First case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever confirmed in QuebecCloseup photo of an American dog tick, crawling on the skin of a person. Photo: Jerry Kirkhart. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

First case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever confirmed in Quebec

Published August 18, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Le Devoir
Published on:
By Florence Morin-Martel

For the first time in Quebec, a person has contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a tick-borne disease that is potentially fatal, a doctor stated on Monday. The patient, recently infected in Estrie, has nevertheless responded well to treatment and has now recovered.

As milder temperatures favour the proliferation of ticks, we expect to see more and more cases in the coming years in Quebec, says Dr. Alex Carignan, infectious disease microbiologist and professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Sherbrooke. “It is concerning, because it is an infection with significant severity.”

The disease, which is treated with antibiotics, can lead to death if not properly managed. The first symptoms, which appear a few hours or days after a person is bitten, include a high fever, headache, muscle aches, and skin lesions in the form of small red spots.

Continue readingFirst case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever confirmed in Quebec
Comments closed