A new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there is no evidence to suggest COVID vaccines cause sudden cardiac death or other fatal heart problems in young people.
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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia
Mask mandate in hospitals dropped as vaccine booster program ramps up
As respiratory season winds down, a mask mandate in hospitals is being dropped but a COVID spring booster program is ramping up to strengthen waning protection for the most vulnerable.
“We are returning to the rules that were in place prior to respiratory illness season,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said Monday on the suspension of the mask mandate, likely to be a seasonal requirement.
The B.C. Health Ministry says given the decreased rates of viral respiratory infections in the community, additional infection prevention and control measures implemented last fall in health-care settings — such as masks — are no longer required at all times.
Comments closedTopic: United KingdomView all posts for the topic: United Kingdom
Cost of private Covid jabs risks widening health inequalities, experts warn
Experts and patient groups have warned that the high cost of private Covid vaccinations could exacerbate health inequalities and leave those more at risk from the virus without a vital line of defence.
Both high street chain Boots and pharmacies that partner with the company Pharmadoctor are now offering Covid jabs to those not eligible for a free vaccination through the NHS, with the former charging almost £100 for the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.
While Pharmadoctor says each pharmacy sets its own prices, it suggests the Pfizer/BioNTech jab will set customers back £75-£85, while the latest Novavax jab will cost about £45-£55.
Comments closedTopic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines
Do you need a spring COVID-19 vaccine? Research backs extra round for high-risk groups
New guidelines suggest certain high-risk groups could benefit from having another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring — and more frequent shots in general — while the broader population could be entering once-a-year territory, much like an annual flu shot.
Medical experts told CBC News that falling behind on the latest shots can come with health risks, particularly for individuals who are older or immunocompromised.
“Even when the risk of infection starts to increase, the vaccines still do a really good job at decreasing risk of severe disease,” said McMaster University researcher and immunologist Matthew Miller.
Comments closedTopic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles
Le nombre de cas de rougeole en hausse au Canada
The number of confirmed measles cases in Canada so far this year is more than three times higher than all infections recorded in 2023, the country’s public health official said, urging people to make sure their vaccines are up to date.
The Public Health Agency of Canada identified 40 confirmed cases across the country in 2024, its Chief Administrator, Dr. Theresa Tam, confirmed on Wednesday.
Tam expressed concern that an insufficient number of school-aged children have not been properly vaccinated against the highly contagious virus.
Comments closedTopic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles
Measles cases in Canada are increasing, Canada’s chief public health officer warns
The number of confirmed measles cases in Canada so far this year is more than three times higher than all infections recorded in 2023, the country’s chief public health officer said as she urged people to ensure their vaccinations are up to date.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is aware of 40 confirmed cases across the country in 2024, Dr. Theresa Tam said on Wednesday.
Tam said she is concerned that not enough school-aged children have been adequately vaccinated against the highly contagious virus.
“I strongly advise parents or caregivers to ensure that children in their care have received all measles vaccines according to schedule,” she said in an interview.
Comments closedTopic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles
L’éclosion de rougeole, un symptôme de l’hésitation vaccinale
There have now been around thirty cases of measles in Quebec since the start of the year. While this number may not seem high, measles outbreaks indicate that vaccination coverage is inadequate. Interview with Ève Dubé, anthropologist and holder of the CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in the Anthropology of Vaccination Issues, INSPQ-ULaval.
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Quebecers over 80 are urged to get COVID vaccine booster this spring
Quebec’s immunization committee is recommending a booster dose of the monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine this spring to seniors ages 80 and over as well as to people who are immunocompromised or on dialysis.
The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve and certain parts of the population remain more vulnerable to the virus, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) said this week in publishing its vaccination recommendations.
A person vaccinated against COVID-19 is less likely to develop serious illness, but a gradual decrease in this protection is observed over a period of six months following vaccination. A booster dose is therefore necessary to maintain adequate protection, the INSPQ notes in its most recent opinion.
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Vaccination contre la COVID-19: l’INSPQ publie ses recommandations pour le printemps
The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve and some population groups remain more vulnerable to the virus. This week, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) published its vaccination recommendations for spring 2024.
A person vaccinated against COVID-19 is less likely to develop a serious illness, but a gradual decrease in this protection is observed over a period of six months after vaccination. A booster dose is thus necessary to maintain adequate protection, recalls the INSPQ in its latest opinion.
Serious complications of COVID-19 are much more common in people 80+ years of age. For this age group, about one in 30 infected people must be hospitalized. For those aged 60 to 79, the incidence of hospitalizations and deaths is lower, except for those living with a chronic disease.
Continue readingVaccination contre la COVID-19: l’INSPQ publie ses recommandations pour le printemps
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Topic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles
Measles is highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable: A primer on recent outbreaks, transmission, symptoms and complications, including ‘immune amnesia’
Canada is seeing a resurgence of measles, with cases in the first quarter of 2024 already far surpassing the total for all of 2023. There were 12 cases last year, and more than three times that number so far in 2024, with 38 reported as of March 19.
Most of these cases (28) are in Québec, and eight are in Ontario, while Saskatchewan and British Columbia have each reported one case.
As an immunologist with a focus on host-microbe interactions and antiviral immunity, I have been following recent measles outbreaks.
Comments closedTopic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response
Video | Four years in, Dr. Raj Bhardwaj discusses how far we’ve come in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in 2020
CBC Calgary’s weekly health columnist, Dr. Raj Bhardwaj, discusses what we’ve learned and how far we’ve come with science and treatments since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
Spring COVID-19 vaccines available April 2 for high-risk New Brunswickers
Spring COVID-19 vaccines will be available April 2 to New Brunswickers considered most at risk of severe illness.
This includes people aged 65 or older, residents of nursing homes and adult residential facilities, and immunocompromised people aged six months or older, the Department of Health said in a news release Monday.
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Radio | Dr. Raj Bhardwaj on COVID-19
It’s been four years since the world shut down due to COVID-19. House doctor Raj Bhardwaj joins us with a look at what we have learned about the virus since those early days.
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Video | Doit-on craindre une épidémie de rougeole ?
Microbiologist and Cégep de l’Outaouais professor Patrick Fillion answers your questions about measles.
Comments closedTopic: NovavaxView all posts for the topic: Novavax
Analysis finds positive risk-benefit for Novavax COVID vaccine
An analysis of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine using clinical and real-world data found that the benefits outweighed the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis, a team…
Comments closedTopic: Nova ScotiaView all posts for the topic: Nova Scotia
High-risk groups can now book spring COVID-19 vaccination
People considered to have the highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 can now make an appointment online for a spring dose of the vaccine.
The dose will be available from March 25 to May 31.
Those who are eligible to book for the vaccination include:
- People aged 65 or older;
- People aged 18 and older living in long-term care, nursing homes, senior congregate living settings or residential care facilities;
- People who are six months and older who meet the criteria for being moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment;
- People aged 50 years and older who identify as Black, African Nova Scotian or First Nations.
Topic: PEIView all posts for the topic: PEI
Older P.E.I. residents, others at risk, urged to get spring COVID vaccine booster
Prince Edward Islanders should be considering whether they need a COVID vaccine booster before the end of May, says Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison.
In a news release Monday morning, Morrison said the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has released updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccine boosters for this spring.
Comments closedTopic: measlesView all posts for the topic: measles
Canada heading toward major measles outbreak without vaccine boost, new modelling suggests
As measles cases keep appearing in more parts of the country, new projections suggest there’s a high chance Canada may experience a “sizable outbreak” — with anywhere from dozens to thousands of people infected if the disease strikes communities with low vaccination rates.
As of Friday, at least 31 cases of measles have been reported so far this year across Canada, according to a CBC News tally of provincial and regional figures released by public health teams.
That’s already the largest annual total since 2019 and more than double the number of cases reported last year, as medical experts fear the number will rise while more Canadians travel in and out of the country this month for March break.
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