Doctor responds to vaccinated vs unvaccinated study - Opinion - Castanet.net

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Re: Mixing with unvaccinated increases COVID-19 risk for vaccinated people, study finds

A recent article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal titled “Impact of population mixing between vaccinated and unvaccinated subpopulations on infectious disease dynamics: implications for SARS-CoV-2 transmission” has garnered much medical and societal attention.

The article uses unproven and subjective mathematical models in an attempt to simulate one’s COVID-19 infection risk across various patterns of interactions with both vaccinated and vaccine-free individuals. The author concludes that individuals who avoid vaccination contribute to negative health consequences for others.

“The risk of infection [is] markedly higher among unvaccinated people than among vaccinated people under all [population interaction] assumptions.”

Such an assertion is incorrect and blatantly bias as I will demonstrate.

This article is fraught with egregious misassumptions and glaring omissions. This deceptive study:

• Uses problematic mathematical modelling as a surrogate for real-world data

• Overestimates vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection

• Overestimates the risk of transmission (secondary attack rate)

• Underestimates the percentage of the unvaccinated population with effective and robust natural immunity

• Does not account for the waning immunity provided by vaccines

• Is published by a lead author who’s conflicts of interest are multiple and significant as it pertains to COVID-19 vaccines.

First, inaccurate mathematical modelling (aka computer modelling) has been frequently used throughout the COVID-19 response in order to justify lockdown measures while promoting unscientific public health edicts. I have yet to observe any real accuracy nor public health benefit to the multiple computer modelled declarations or the policies they generate to date.

Next, the authors have used the fictitious range of vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection of 40-80%. This represents the upper bound limit of 80% as seen in some Delta variant data and a lower bound limit of 40%, the rate presumed months prior to any real-world early Omicron variant data.

These assumptions are not consistent with the current data available to the medical community. The vaccine effectiveness against Omicron symptomatic infection ranges from 0% to 75% which represents a range independently associated with one’s vaccine type, duration since primary series, and duration since booster(s).

Regarding transmission, the author overstates the ability of vaccines to reduce the risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by a remarkable amount. The most current information available from the publication United Kingdom COVID-19 Vaccine Surveillance Report Week 16 (April 21, 2022) confirms a vaccine effectiveness of 0-25% in reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission at all time periods since a booster dose. Current data supports the fact that COVID-19 vaccines do a poor job at reducing one’s risk of transmission of disease.

Thus, the authors’ models grossly overestimate vaccine effectiveness against both symptomatic infection and transmission. Moreover, the model proposed fails to account for the single-handedly most important reason for the ongoing and relentless Omicron waves, namely waning vaccine immunity.

Countless studies and real-world data demonstrate rapid waning immunity in the fully vaccinated population. Vaccines do not currently protect the vaccinated. Why can’t we all just admit this reality?

Furthermore, the authors assume a baseline previously infected rate of 20% in the unvaccinated population. Since the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 waves, it is now estimated that 50-80% of Canadians have been infected and thus have achieved natural immunity, with that number continuing to rise daily.

The longevity of protection from natural immunity against symptomatic infection has been repeatedly proven superior to vaccination alone, meaning that the underestimation of those with natural immunity further skews the model from being anything remotely resembling what we are witnessing in reality.

Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the level of academic rigor, integrity, and quality used to support mandates, restrictions, and Public Health guidance has drastically diminished. We are forced to adhere to observational data and models, which would fail scrutiny in any first-year medical epidemiology course as the gold standards for determining efficacy and effectiveness. Appallingly, this same evidence is being used to guide and dictate policies, which have caused irreversible damage to adolescents, families, careers, and our healthcare system. Randomized control trials are compromised and left unfinished leading to a discreet lack of data that should cause any clinician worth their degree cause for concern.

Finally, I must address the footnote provided in the study. Dr. Fisman admits he accepts direct compensation from multiple COVID-19 vaccine agencies including Pfizer and AstraZeneca. When it comes to subjective societal models, how can we trust a researcher who has direct financial ties to the vaccine industry to be objective about a matter of utmost financial importance to the companies to which he pledges allegiance? Cui bono?

Evidence-based medicine has lost its aptitude amidst a time where academics like Dr. Fisman financially benefit by producing poor quality studies that the media, the provincial government and their enablers, including the provincial heath officer deem as gospel.

(B.C. Premier) John Horgan recently posed the question “[Do] you want a headline, or do you want action?”. True academics would like quality evidence from independent researchers who have no conflicts of interest. Unfortunately, the true nature of our current reality leads us to a realm that includes unproven mathematical models, a misunderstanding about the importance of the variables at hand, an underrepresentation of the natural immunity we all share, and most importantly the intentional misleading of the public when it comes to public health matters nation-wide.

Promotion of poorly constructed research such as this can only lead to further stigmatization and division in our once tolerant society. We challenge the CMAJ to retract this “study” and similarly challenge all media outlets who carried this story to issue a correction in their next publication.

Dr. Ralph Behrens is a medical doctor located in Fruitvale, B.C.

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COVID-19 outbreak 'under control' at Kenora hospital - KenoraOnline.com

Staff say the COVID-19 outbreak at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital is now under control.

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital activated its pandemic plan on April 15, after two hospital patients tested positive for COVID-19. Visitor restrictions were immediately introduced and remain in place at this time, with limited exceptions for end-of-life patients.

By April 18, the hospital announced that the outbreak had grown to include nine patients, six of which acquired COVID-19 through the outbreak in the 3 East department. The hospital noted they were also facing ‘critical’ staffing shortages at the time.

Now, the hospital says the outbreak has been restricted to the 2E medical in-patient unit, and there have been no new hospital-acquired cases of the virus associated with the outbreak since April 22.

“Diligent work from the LWDH staff and professional staff including patient isolation, asymptomatic testing and restricting movement between departments has contained the outbreak at this point in time,” said hospital leadership, in a prepared statement.

As it stands, the hospital says there are five patients in hospital due to the outbreak and another four residents have been admitted due to community transmission, however, these numbers can change daily.

“Hospital leadership would like to acknowledge the LWDH team for the amazing job they have done to contain this outbreak. It has not been easy and this is an incredibly challenging time not only due to the pandemic, but due to unprecedented staffing shortages. Thank you, as well to the Northwestern Health Unit for their support as we navigate the next steps,” leadership adds.

The hospital notes its Infection Control Team has been working collaboratively with members of the Northwestern Health Unit to investigate the origin of the outbreak and to ensure effective control strategies.

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COVID-19 Outbreak Declared Over at St. Joseph's Hospital – Medically Complex Services (2 North) - Thunder Bay District Health Unit

April 29, 2022 - The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) and St. Joseph’s Care Group announce that the outbreak at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Medically Complex Services (2 North), in Thunder Bay is now over.

Prior to the outbreak, significant measures were already in place to reduce the likelihood of transmission of the virus within the facility. Expanded precautions were implemented for the duration of the outbreak.

For additional information about COVID-19 and the TBDHU area, please see the TBDHU Website.

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For more information - Health Unit Media: news@tbdhu.com.

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GO-VAXX mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic coming back to McMaster's campus May 6th - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - McMaster COVID-19

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Novavax vaccine arrives in the NWT - NNSL Media

NWT residents who were hesitant to get an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine for personal or medical reasons now have a new option to get immunized with the arrival of the Novavax protein-based vaccine in the territory.

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority announced the arrival of the first Novavax shipment in the territory on April 28. The vaccine is approved by Health Canada for all residents 18 and older, and is administered in two doses eight weeks apart.

No proof of eligibility or medical note is required to qualify for the vaccine. However, Novavax isn’t yet approved as a second dose after an mRNA vaccine. Anyone who had an allergic reaction to their first dose of an mRNA vaccine and wants to take Novavax as a second dose is encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider.

Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Novavax isn’t an mRNA vaccine, which “teaches” cells in the body how to produce proteins that trigger an immune response to the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus. Instead, it contains a neutralized spike protein from the Covid virus itself.

In Yellowknife, the first Novavax clinic will be held on May 18 in Centre Square Mall, with more clinics to be announced at a later date. Due to limited supply, to receive an immunization from a health centre outside Yellowknife, residents will need to request a dose in advance of shipments being sent out.

The Novavax vaccine was first approved by Health Canada on Feb. 17. As of April 10, no doses had yet been administered in Canada, but as of April 28, 75,700 vaccines had been distributed nationwide, including 1,100 to the Northwest Territories.

The Novavax vaccine is already available in every province — only Nunavut has yet to receive a shipment of the new vaccine.

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BlackburnNews.com - Avian flu confirmed in Huron County - BlackburnNews.com

Avian flu confirmed in Huron County

File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / monticello.

By Steve Sabourin April 28, 2022 6:25am

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A poultry flock in Huron County is the 19th confirmation of avian influenza in Ontario.

And it’s the first detection in the local area since the bird flu was confirmed in a flock in West Grey, near Hanover, on April 9th.

Overall there have been 19 confirmed cases of avian influenza in poultry flocks and small flocks in Ontario dating back to March 27th.

More cases are also being confirmed in other parts of the country.

The only province NOT reporting cases of bird flu is PEI. And there are no reported cases in the territories.

The CFIA puts each infected premise under quarantine and establishes movement control measures and is recommending enhanced biosecurity for other farms within each area.

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Fourth area of Hogarth Riverview Manor in COVID-19 outbreak - Tbnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY – A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared in a fourth area of the Hogarth Riverview Manor long-term care home.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported the latest outbreak, in the home’s Rose (6N) area, on Wednesday, but did not disclose further details.

Despite the growing number of outbreaks in the 544-bed home, operated by St. Joseph’s Care Group, the health unit has so far not declared an outbreak facility-wide.

The St. Joseph’s Care Group has refused to share details on the number of people infected in the outbreaks and whether they've caused any hospitalizations or deaths in response to requests from TBnewswatch, citing privacy concerns.

That policy stands in contrast with other local long-term care home operators, which have shared details on COVID-19 outbreaks at their facilities in the past.

The TBDHU previously declared COVID-19 outbreaks in the home’s Marigold (5N) area on April 25, the 1 North area on April 19, and the 4 North area on April 15.

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Climate change may increase risk of new infectious diseases - CBC News

Climate change will result in thousands of new viruses spread among animal species by 2070 — and that's likely to increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans, according to a new study.

This is especially true for Africa and Asia, continents that have been hotspots for deadly disease spread from humans to animals or vice versa over the last several decades, including the flu, HIV, Ebola and novel coronavirus.

Researchers, who published their findings Thursday in the journal Nature, used a model to examine how more than 3,000 mammal species might migrate and and share viruses over the next 50 years if the world warms by 2 C (3.6 F), which recent research shows is possible.

They found that cross-species virus spread will happen over 4,000 times among mammals alone. Bats account for the majority of novel viral sharing. Birds and marine animals weren't included in the study.

Implications for humans

Researchers said not all viruses will spread to humans or become pandemics on the scale of the novel coronavirus, but the number of cross-species viruses increases the risk of spread to humans.

The study highlights two global crises — climate change and infectious disease spread — as the world grapples with what to do about both.

In 2070, human population centres in equatorial Africa, south China, India and southeast Asia will overlap with projected hotspots of cross-species viral transmission in wildlife. (Colin Carlson/Georgetown University)

Previous research has looked at how deforestation and extinction and wildlife trade lead to animal-human disease spread, but there's less research about how climate change could influence this type of disease transmission, the researchers said at a media briefing Wednesday.

"We don't talk about climate a lot in the context of zoonoses" — diseases that can spread from animals to people, said study co-author Colin Carlson, an assistant professor of biology at Georgetown University. "Our study ... brings together the two most pressing global crises we have."

Estimate is 'extremely conservative,' says independent expert

Experts on climate change and infectious disease agreed that a warming planet will likely lead to increased risk for the emergence of new viruses.

Daniel R. Brooks, a biologist at University of Nebraska State Museum and co-author of the book The Stockholm Paradigm: Climate Change and Emerging Disease, said the study acknowledges the threat posed by climate change in terms of increasing risk of infectious diseases.

"This particular contribution is an extremely conservative estimate for potential" emerging infectious disease spread caused by climate change, said Brooks.

Aaron Bernstein, a pediatrician and interim director of The Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said the study confirms long-held suspicions about the impact of warming on infectious disease emergence.

"Of particular note is that the study indicates that these encounters may already be happening with greater frequency and in places near where many people live," Bernstein said.

Study co-author Gregory Albery, a disease ecologist at Georgetown University, said that because climate-driven infectious disease emergence is likely already happening, the world should be doing more to learn about and prepare for it.

"It is not preventable, even in the best-case climate change scenarios," Albery said.

Carlson, who was also an author on the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said we must cut greenhouse gas and phase out fossil fuels to reduce the risk of infectious disease spread.

Jaron Browne, organizing director of the climate justice group Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, said the study highlights climate injustices experienced by people living in African and Asian nations.

"African and Asian nations face the greatest threat of increased virus exposure, once again illustrating how those on the front lines of the crisis have very often done the least to create climate change," Browne said.

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BC avian flu outbreak likely spread through commercial bird farming – Victoria News - Victoria News

B.C.’s second case of domestic avian influenza has been confirmed in a small flock in the City of Kelowna, but it is unclear what the government considers to be a small flock.

READ MORE: B.C.’s second case of domestic avian influenza confirmed in the Okanagan

J.M. Giroux, an Okanagan smallholder farmer and admin to the BC Poultry Group Facebook page said the term “small flock” can be interpreted to mean many things and doesn’t have a set definition.

BC egg considers small lot farms to be farmers with under 399 hens. Under CFIA guidelines, “small flocks” are considered farms with up to 1000 birds.

The provincial government has not yet released their parameters of small and large flocks meaning that the “small flock” that was infected may have consisted of hundreds of birds.

The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and the CFIA were unavailable for comment on the definition of a “small flock” at the time of this article.

“Numerous field studies have shown that backyard flocks are typically insignificant spreaders of the avian flu,” said Giroux.

This statement is supported by research that found backyard flocks contribute little to typical avian flu outbreaks.

“What’s really at risk is large-scale layer farms,” said Giroux.

Giroux said that birds in industrial livestock operations live in close quarters and typically have low genetic diversity because they are from the same parent stock. He explained that because of this the birds are prime candidates for infections of highly pathogenic viruses, like H5N1.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food said that producers within a 12-kilometre radius in both the North and Central Okanagan have been notified of the positive test result.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported that the area surrounding the infected farm has been placed under quarantine, however, the area of quarantine in the Kelowna region has not been publicly specified.

Giroux alleges that the majority of transmission between large farms is because of the sharing of equipment, truck contamination and workers with contaminated clothing working on multiple farms.

The Government of Canada has suggested that poultry farmers implement Avian Biosecurity Measures to prevent the spread of H5N1.

“Usually, the transfer is between farms on contaminated clothes and equipment,” said Giroux.

He said that although a recent sample from a bald eagle found in Delta tested positive for the same disease, wild birds are not the primary vector of the disease.

Giroux explained that farmers should not be looking to exterminate wild birds as a means of controlling the spread of the virus.

The ministry released an order mandating that “all regulated commercial chicken and turkey operations, as well as commercial duck and geese (both live and egg) producers with 100 or more birds must maintain indoor operations”.

Giroux said that it is not feasible for backyard producers to move their flock indoors during the outbreak and instead suggests keeping flocks in a clean, low-stress environment with access to diverse foods where they can be “as wild as they can be”.

He emphasized, “forcing your poultry indoors for months can expose them to other sources of disease and infection. For many outside of the control zone this seems like a simple solution but they are not understanding the impact of poor indoor air quality and the mental stress to birds brought on by confinement.”

“By no means am I trying to minimize it,” said Giroux about the severity of H5N1.

He said that he acknowledges that the highly pathogenic virus can spread quickly and said that when a flock becomes infected the birds are all culled.

Giroux said that he wants to “promote backyard producers and reduce reliance on commercial laying farms”.

He said that this would reduce the impact of illness on our food chain and improve the welfare of layer hens.

According to B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the CFIA and B.C. poultry producers, enhanced prevention and preparedness, measures are in place and the current outbreaks are being monitored to prevent spread.

In the past, strains of the avian flu have caused a near 100 percent mortality rate among infected birds with disastrous impacts on both commercial and small flock producers.

Capital News has reached out to the Ministry of Agriculture and will update this article if more information becomes available.

READ MORE: UPDATE: Avian flu near Enderby creates large control zone

---

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Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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BC avian flu outbreak likely spread through commercial bird farming – Victoria News - Victoria News

B.C.’s second case of domestic avian influenza has been confirmed in a small flock in the City of Kelowna, but it is unclear what the government considers to be a small flock.

READ MORE: B.C.’s second case of domestic avian influenza confirmed in the Okanagan

J.M. Giroux, an Okanagan smallholder farmer and admin to the BC Poultry Group Facebook page said the term “small flock” can be interpreted to mean many things and doesn’t have a set definition.

BC egg considers small lot farms to be farmers with under 399 hens. Under CFIA guidelines, “small flocks” are considered farms with up to 1000 birds.

The provincial government has not yet released their parameters of small and large flocks meaning that the “small flock” that was infected may have consisted of hundreds of birds.

The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and the CFIA were unavailable for comment on the definition of a “small flock” at the time of this article.

“Numerous field studies have shown that backyard flocks are typically insignificant spreaders of the avian flu,” said Giroux.

This statement is supported by research that found backyard flocks contribute little to typical avian flu outbreaks.

“What’s really at risk is large-scale layer farms,” said Giroux.

Giroux said that birds in industrial livestock operations live in close quarters and typically have low genetic diversity because they are from the same parent stock. He explained that because of this the birds are prime candidates for infections of highly pathogenic viruses, like H5N1.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food said that producers within a 12-kilometre radius in both the North and Central Okanagan have been notified of the positive test result.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported that the area surrounding the infected farm has been placed under quarantine, however, the area of quarantine in the Kelowna region has not been publicly specified.

Giroux alleges that the majority of transmission between large farms is because of the sharing of equipment, truck contamination and workers with contaminated clothing working on multiple farms.

The Government of Canada has suggested that poultry farmers implement Avian Biosecurity Measures to prevent the spread of H5N1.

“Usually, the transfer is between farms on contaminated clothes and equipment,” said Giroux.

He said that although a recent sample from a bald eagle found in Delta tested positive for the same disease, wild birds are not the primary vector of the disease.

Giroux explained that farmers should not be looking to exterminate wild birds as a means of controlling the spread of the virus.

The ministry released an order mandating that “all regulated commercial chicken and turkey operations, as well as commercial duck and geese (both live and egg) producers with 100 or more birds must maintain indoor operations”.

Giroux said that it is not feasible for backyard producers to move their flock indoors during the outbreak and instead suggests keeping flocks in a clean, low-stress environment with access to diverse foods where they can be “as wild as they can be”.

He emphasized, “forcing your poultry indoors for months can expose them to other sources of disease and infection. For many outside of the control zone this seems like a simple solution but they are not understanding the impact of poor indoor air quality and the mental stress to birds brought on by confinement.”

“By no means am I trying to minimize it,” said Giroux about the severity of H5N1.

He said that he acknowledges that the highly pathogenic virus can spread quickly and said that when a flock becomes infected the birds are all culled.

Giroux said that he wants to “promote backyard producers and reduce reliance on commercial laying farms”.

He said that this would reduce the impact of illness on our food chain and improve the welfare of layer hens.

According to B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the CFIA and B.C. poultry producers, enhanced prevention and preparedness, measures are in place and the current outbreaks are being monitored to prevent spread.

In the past, strains of the avian flu have caused a near 100 percent mortality rate among infected birds with disastrous impacts on both commercial and small flock producers.

Capital News has reached out to the Ministry of Agriculture and will update this article if more information becomes available.

READ MORE: UPDATE: Avian flu near Enderby creates large control zone

---

@Rangers_mom
Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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BC avian flu outbreak likely spread through commercial bird farming – Vernon Morning Star - Vernon Morning Star

B.C.’s second case of domestic avian influenza has been confirmed in a small flock in the City of Kelowna, but it is unclear what the government considers to be a small flock.

READ MORE: B.C.’s second case of domestic avian influenza confirmed in the Okanagan

J.M. Giroux, an Okanagan smallholder farmer and admin to the BC Poultry Group Facebook page said the term “small flock” can be interpreted to mean many things and doesn’t have a set definition.

BC egg considers small lot farms to be farmers with under 399 hens. Under CFIA guidelines, “small flocks” are considered farms with up to 1000 birds.

The provincial government has not yet released their parameters of small and large flocks meaning that the “small flock” that was infected may have consisted of hundreds of birds.

The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and the CFIA were unavailable for comment on the definition of a “small flock” at the time of this article.

“Numerous field studies have shown that backyard flocks are typically insignificant spreaders of the avian flu,” said Giroux.

This statement is supported by research that found backyard flocks contribute little to typical avian flu outbreaks.

“What’s really at risk is large-scale layer farms,” said Giroux.

Giroux said that birds in industrial livestock operations live in close quarters and typically have low genetic diversity because they are from the same parent stock. He explained that because of this the birds are prime candidates for infections of highly pathogenic viruses, like H5N1.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food said that producers within a 12-kilometre radius in both the North and Central Okanagan have been notified of the positive test result.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported that the area surrounding the infected farm has been placed under quarantine, however, the area of quarantine in the Kelowna region has not been publicly specified.

Giroux alleges that the majority of transmission between large farms is because of the sharing of equipment, truck contamination and workers with contaminated clothing working on multiple farms.

The Government of Canada has suggested that poultry farmers implement Avian Biosecurity Measures to prevent the spread of H5N1.

“Usually, the transfer is between farms on contaminated clothes and equipment,” said Giroux.

He said that although a recent sample from a bald eagle found in Delta tested positive for the same disease, wild birds are not the primary vector of the disease.

Giroux explained that farmers should not be looking to exterminate wild birds as a means of controlling the spread of the virus.

The ministry released an order mandating that “all regulated commercial chicken and turkey operations, as well as commercial duck and geese (both live and egg) producers with 100 or more birds must maintain indoor operations”.

Giroux said that it is not feasible for backyard producers to move their flock indoors during the outbreak and instead suggests keeping flocks in a clean, low-stress environment with access to diverse foods where they can be “as wild as they can be”.

He emphasized, “forcing your poultry indoors for months can expose them to other sources of disease and infection. For many outside of the control zone this seems like a simple solution but they are not understanding the impact of poor indoor air quality and the mental stress to birds brought on by confinement.”

“By no means am I trying to minimize it,” said Giroux about the severity of H5N1.

He said that he acknowledges that the highly pathogenic virus can spread quickly and said that when a flock becomes infected the birds are all culled.

Giroux said that he wants to “promote backyard producers and reduce reliance on commercial laying farms”.

He said that this would reduce the impact of illness on our food chain and improve the welfare of layer hens.

According to B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the CFIA and B.C. poultry producers, enhanced prevention and preparedness, measures are in place and the current outbreaks are being monitored to prevent spread.

In the past, strains of the avian flu have caused a near 100 percent mortality rate among infected birds with disastrous impacts on both commercial and small flock producers.

Capital News has reached out to the Ministry of Agriculture and will update this article if more information becomes available.

READ MORE: UPDATE: Avian flu near Enderby creates large control zone

---

@Rangers_mom
Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.

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National Infant Immunization Week: The importance of childhood vaccinations - 9NEWS

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Stay on track with your child's immunizations - My Lloydminster Now

Immunization Awareness Week. [Photo: Government of Saskatchewan, supplied]

With National Immunization Awareness Week being observed from April 25-30th, Saskatchewan health officials are reminding of the importance of immunizations to protect children against preventable diseases.

“Routine childhood immunizations are free to all Saskatchewan families through public health offices throughout the province,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said. “Our province’s team of public health care professionals continue their important work to keep childhood vaccination rates on track and keep our kids’ safe.”

Fully immunized children are less likely to spread vaccine preventable diseases to those around them, including those too young to be immunized or to those who have medical conditions that make them more susceptible to serious disease, according to health officials.

“Routine childhood immunization is the most effective way to protect our children against vaccine preventable diseases like chicken pox, measles, mumps, whooping cough or polio,” Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Medical Director for Immunization Dr. Tania Diener said. “If children are not vaccinated, diseases thought to be gone in Saskatchewan could reappear.”

Information on Saskatchewan immunization programs, the Routine Childhood Immunization Schedule, as well as vaccine fact sheets are all available online.

For more information on immunizations, residents can contact their local public health office, call HealthLine 811, or visit the Government of Saskatchewan website.

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Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD): Types, Symptoms, Treatment - Healthline

Fresh signs of mosquito insecticide resistance in South Africa - The Conversation

Most South Africans aren’t worried about malaria even though the disease is endemic in the country. Four of the country’s nine provinces carry malaria risk while 10% of the population is at risk of contracting malaria.

The lack of concern can be attributed to the fact that the country has a relatively low burden of the disease. In 2020, South Africa had 8,126 cases and 38 deaths. This is low when compared to the estimated 10,007,802 cases and 23,766 deaths in Mozambique during the same period.

The low number of cases means that South Africa is a candidate for malaria elimination. To reach this goal the country would need to record no new infections for three years. This goal has recently been achieved by China and El Salvador in 2021, and Argentina and Algeria in 2019.

The region in South Africa most likely to achieve this status is KwaZulu-Natal where the incidence rate is very low. But there are threats to achieving the goal.

In a recent paper we set out our findings on malaria in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. We found that certain species of malaria-carrying mosquitoes showed resistance to insecticides. Though the resistance levels are low, they nevertheless point to a potentially worrying trend.

This is not the first time that insecticide resistance has been reported in the province. Monitoring resistance is important because it gives an early warning sign of coming danger. The loss of insecticide efficacy can be a major blow to malaria control efforts.

Levels of malaria incidence can change very quickly. This was the case during a epidemic between 1996-2000 which was caused by a combination of insecticide resistance and anti-malarial drug resistance.

Insecticide resistance is a growing threat to malaria control efforts globally. In South Africa, indoor residual spraying is the cornerstone of the malaria elimination efforts. Hence, it is important to keep a close eye on vector mosquito populations in affected areas.

A concerted effort on the part of the government ensured that malaria infection rates were brought down again. Our research suggests there needs to be extra vigilance to ensure there isn’t another spike.

Resistance

Our research was done as part of ongoing malaria surveillance in the country. Malaria surveillance is essential for provincial control and elimination programmes. These surveillance activities include collecting mosquitoes, identifying them and testing their sensitivity to insecticides. The aim is to provide important information on vector mosquito populations in affected areas, such as their feeding, breeding and resting behaviours and their susceptibilities to insecticide.

In our paper we looked at Anopheles with special emphasis on Anopheles arabiensis, which is the primary vector of malaria in the northern Kwa-Zulu Natal.

We collected Anopheles specimens from Mamfene, Jozini, northern KwaZulu-Natal between November 2019 and April 2021. We conducted standard insecticide susceptibility tests. These showed resistance to DDT, permethrin, deltamethrin, and bendiocarb, as well as full susceptibility to pirimiphos-methyl. These are classes of insecticides that are approved for indoor residual spraying.

The levels of resistance we detected are still low, with an average survival rate of 12%. But they’re nevertheless concerning.

If insecticide resistance becomes widespread it can result in operational failure. This would mean that the current insecticide-based mosquito control strategies would not be effective. This, in turn, can lead to mosquito numbers growing as parasite densities increase.

It is, therefore, essential that control is maintained and strengthened by adopting suitable strategies to prevent the development of insecticide resistance.

South Africa is aware of the problem, which is why it has adopted malaria control programmes that use at least two different insecticides in a mosaic spraying pattern. This approach has proved highly successful. This is like using a multi-drug approach to combat resistance in bacteria and viruses. It will slow down the development of insecticide resistance compared to using a single insecticide.

No time for complacency

South Africa’s low number of cases mean that the country is a candidate for malaria elimination. But this is not the time for complacency. The spike in malaria cases in South Africa in 2017 shows how quickly the progress can be undone.

Various countries have relegated malaria to history. China is the latest country to achieve this, which is significant due to the size of its population and geographical area.

South Africa could join this list, with KwaZulu-Natal province at the forefront of the charge towards elimination. Yet, the province is also a reminder of what could happen if the country lets its guard down.

Malaria is a dynamic disease, and mosquitoes do not respect borders. The epidemics of 1996-2000 and the spike in cases in 2017 should be a stark warning of what can happen, especially if complacency steps in.

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SPHP limiting visitation due to rising COVID cases - NEWS10 ABC

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1. SPHP limiting visitation due to rising COVID cases  NEWS10 ABC
2. St. Peter's back to restricted visitation amid COVID-19 increase  Times Union
3. View Full coverage on Google News

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Who can get COVID-19 pill Paxlovid in New Brunswick? - Global Circulate

The COVID-19 medication Paxlovid was approved by Health Canada in January but odds are you wouldn’t be able to walk out of a New Brunswick pharmacy with it today.

The Pfizer-made antiviral pill is designed to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death for vulnerable people who catch COVID-19.

It’s prescribed by primary care providers and available at pharmacies at no cost.

Read more:

Could Paxlovid help treat long COVID? Here’s what we know

Eligibility for the pill, though, is still narrower in New Brunswick than in some neighbouring provinces.

“It’s still very much an unfolding treatment across the province,” says Kevin Duplisea, a pharmacist in Sussex and board member with the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association.

The association says it meets regularly with public health concerning issues related to the pandemic and has met to talk about Paxlovid’s rollout.

Currently in the province, the following groups are deemed eligible for the drug:

• Those 50 years old and older who have not been fully vaccinated,
• Those 50 years old and older who live in long-term care, receive home care or live in a First Nations community,
• People 18 years old and older with immune systems compromised by active or recent cancer treatment, a solid organ transplant, stem cell transplant, advanced or untreated HIV infection, etc.

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Except in the case of those living amidst an outbreak in any long-term care setting, New Brunswick requires COVID-19 infection to be confirmed with a PCR test before a Paxlovid prescription can be obtained.

It is the only Atlantic province not to accept rapid tests. The time needed to book, take and acquire the results from a PCR test could potentially cut down on crucial treatment time.

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Paxlovid ‘inaccessible’ to many patients in Canada. Here’s why that needs to change

Duplisea says his pharmacist has no active prescriptions for Paxlovid, due in part to Public Health’s stringent criteria.

“In the very beginning I had one prescription, a few weeks ago, but that person did not meet the criteria and they were referred on,” he says.

He says it should be regarded as just one tool in the toolbelt used to combat COVID-19 and that, even if you’re eligible, you should prioritize protecting yourself from ever catching it in the first place.

“The main point that I want to share with New Brunswickers is, although it’s available and that’s wonderful, it’s not a magic bullet,” says Duplisea.

“It does not replace basic hand hygiene, wearing a mask and getting all your shots against COVID-19.”

In a statement sent to Global News Friday, a spokesperson for Public Health says 682 New Brunswickers have so far been prescribed Paxlovid.

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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DR Congo declares new Ebola outbreak_china.org.cn - China.org.cn

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the 14th outbreak of Ebola virus after one confirmed case was reported in Mbandaka, a city in the DRC's northwestern Equateur Province, confirmed Saturday the World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement.

A positive case of Ebola virus disease has been reported in Wangata Health Zone of the Equateur province, confirmed Saturday DRC's Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani.

The patient, a 31-year-old man, began experiencing symptoms on April 5 and after more than a week of care at home, sought treatment at a local health facility. On April 21, the patient was admitted to an Ebola treatment centre for intensive care but died later that day, said WHO's regional office for Africa, adding that investigations to determine the source of the outbreak are ongoing.

"Time is not on our side," said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

"The disease has had a two-week head start and we are now playing catch-up. The positive news is that health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have more experience than anyone else in the world at controlling Ebola outbreaks quickly," said Moeti.

DRC is experiencing its fourteenth Ebola outbreaks since 1976. The current outbreak is the sixth since 2018 alone, the most frequent occurrence in the country's Ebola history. Previous outbreaks in Equateur Province were in 2020 and 2018, with 130 and 54 recorded cases respectively, according to the WHO.

In December 2021, DRC has declared end of its 13th Ebola outbreak in which eight cases were confirmed and three probable, including six deaths in the northeastern North Kivu province.

"Many people in Mbandaka are already vaccinated against Ebola, which should help reduce the impact of the disease," said Dr Moeti. "All those who were vaccinated during the 2020 outbreak will be revaccinated."

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Wyoming County sets COVID vaccination clinics | Public Service News | thedailynewsonline.com - The Daily News Online

WARSAW — A series of COVID-19 vaccination and booster clinics have been announced for Tuesday.

The clinics will take place at the Wyoming County Health Department on 5362 Mungers Mill Rd.

They will include first doses, boosters and additional boosters for the Moderna vaccines, along with additional boosters for the Pfizer vaccine.

The Moderna shot is for those at least 18 years old. Pfizer vaccine is for anyone at least 5 years old.

Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian that can provide consent. It’s asked that people bring identification, proof of insurance.

Those receiving a booster dose are also asked to bring their vaccination card.

Anybody who needs a COVID-19 vaccine may schedule an appointment online at https://www.wyomingco.net/595/COVID-19.

He or she may also call the county’s response line at (585) 786-8911 to register or for more information.

Additional boosters are available for those over 50 years old, immunosuppressed 5 years and older, and those who have had both J&J vaccine and booster. Additional boosters are to be given no earlier than four months after the first booster.

The Center for Disease Control recommends anyone over 12 years of age receive a first booster dose. Persons who are between 12 and 17 years old may only receive Pfizer booster.

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Wyoming County sets COVID vaccination clinics | News | thedailynewsonline.com - The Daily News Online

WARSAW — A series of COVID-19 vaccination and booster clinics have been announced for Tuesday.

The clinics will take place at the Wyoming County Health Department on 5362 Mungers Mill Rd.

They will include first doses, boosters and additional boosters for the Moderna vaccines, along with additional boosters for the Pfizer vaccine.

The Moderna shot is for those at least 18 years old. Pfizer vaccine is for anyone at least 5 years old.

Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian that can provide consent. It’s asked that people bring identification, proof of insurance.

Those receiving a booster dose are also asked to bring their vaccination card.

Anybody who needs a COVID-19 vaccine may schedule an appointment online at https://www.wyomingco.net/595/COVID-19.

He or she may also call the county’s response line at (585) 786-8911 to register or for more information.

Additional boosters are available for those over 50 years old, immunosuppressed 5 years and older, and those who have had both J&J vaccine and booster. Additional boosters are to be given no earlier than four months after the first booster.

The Center for Disease Control recommends anyone over 12 years of age receive a first booster dose. Persons who are between 12 and 17 years old may only receive Pfizer booster.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Potential case of avian flu in Cowichan Valley chicken flock under investigation - Vancouver Sun

The CFIA said cases of avian flu are rising rapidly across Canada. In B.C., only one outbreak has been confirmed, on a farm near Enderby in the Shuswap.

Chickens are seen at a chicken farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Photo by Jonathan Hayward /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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A farm in the Cowichan Valley has been identified as a “premises of concern” for avian flu by the the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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The province’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food confirmed that the federal agency is investigating a “backyard flock” of chickens in the Mill Bay area that might have the highly infectious H5N1 virus.

The ministry has sent out notices to farms within a 12-kilometre radius. “The premises of concern has displayed symptoms … and has warranted further investigation,” the ministry said Friday in an email.

The Salt Spring Island Poultry Club has rescheduled its April 30 poultry show to late May or June after a member in the Cowichan Valley alerted the group. The club said in a Facebook post: “Our goal as a club is to do everything we can to protect our Island’s livestock, and our club members’ pets.”

The CFIA said cases of avian flu are rising rapidly across Canada.

Article content

In B.C., only one outbreak has been confirmed, on a farm near Enderby in the Shuswap.

The virus is spread through contact with an infected bird, its feces or nasal secretions. It can be spread by migratory birds and by humans, who can carry the infection on their shoes or clothing.

Island commercial poultry farms have been on alert since the Enderby outbreak was reported April 13, with bio-security measures that include restricted access in barns and spraying down all vehicles coming and going.

The CFIA does not release information about suspected avian flu cases. If H5N1 is confirmed in the Mill Bay flock, it will be posted on its website.

The Agriculture Ministry said birds can end up dead, or have symptoms such as a decline in egg production, respiratory illness, diarrhea or a drop in feed or water consumption.

The province’s worst avian flu outbreak was in 2004, which led to a cull of about 17 million birds in the Fraser Valley.

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COVID-19 Vaccine - Michigan (.gov)

Note: The Pfizer vaccine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in persons aged 16 and older, and is authorized under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in persons aged 5 to 15. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized under an EUA for use in persons aged 18 and older. The emergency use of these products is only authorized for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of the medical product under Section 564(b)(1) of the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner.

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U.S. child vaccination rates dip during pandemic -study - National Post

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Child vaccination rates in the United States fell during the COVID-19 pandemic as many children skipped doctors appointments and states eased vaccine requirements during remote learning, according to a government study released on Thursday.

During the 2020–21 school year, vaccination coverage among kindergartners nationwide for three required vaccines was approximately 1% lower than the previous school year, according to the study conducted by researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Article content

“As schools return to in-person learning, high vaccination coverage is necessary to continue protecting students from vaccine-preventable diseases,” the study’s authors said.

The researchers looked at coverage for three commonly required vaccines: the MMR vaccine to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella; DTaP, which prevents diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis; and the varicella shot for chickenpox.

Coverage for all three vaccines decreased in a majority of states to about 94%, just under the target of 95%, the CDC said.

“This might not sound like much,” Georgina Peacock, acting director of CDC’s Immunization Services Division told reporters on a call. “But it amounts to at least 35,000 more children across the United States that entered kindergarten without documentation of complete vaccination against common diseases like measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox.”

The study included data collected for the 2020–21 school year by state and local immunization programs in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

The study authors noted some limitations to their data, including variations in states’ vaccine requirements and documentation processes, non-inclusion of three states and barriers created by the pandemic, such as the shift to virtual learning.

(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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Why COVID headaches can be hard to shake — and when you should worry - CBC News

For some people with COVID-19, the pain in their skull is so intense they consider a trip to the emergency room. 

For others, it might come in throbbing waves or feel like a constant mild ache; it could be gone within minutes of taking painkillers or still be there months later.

"My head felt like it would explode, and no medication was enough to make it better," said Ananda Pires, who fell ill in late December.

After two days during which she was barely able to move from her bed, the Guelph, Ont., woman said her headache mostly disappeared, with just minor pain and sensitivity to light in the days that followed.

• Have a coronavirus question or news tip for CBC News? Email: ask@cbc.ca or join us live in the comments now.

While loss of smell, fever and dry cough may be more publicized symptoms of COVID-19, headache is a common one, too. And, two years into the pandemic, patients and physicians are beginning to recognize that, for some, it may be by far the worst symptom — and one that lingers after others are gone.

It's why there's been a push by researchers, including the U.S. National Institutes of Health, to study the little-understood long-term neurological symptoms reported in some acute COVID-19 patients, which can include headaches, brain inflammation and damage to brain blood vessels.  

While some people's headaches disappear alongside the illness, other patients can't seem to shake them — even long after their other COVID symptoms are gone. 

Some people with COVID headaches find relief with over-the-counter painkillers. Others say medication didn't alleviate their pain. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth tested positive for COVID at the start of April. The Ottawa family physician is now well enough to resume seeing patients, but she still has an incessant headache that she describes as "like a vise."

"It's like you're wearing a hat that's too small," Kaplan-Myrth told CBC News. "It's a dull pain that's just always there."

For Scott Schmidt, the COVID headache "was like living under water for a few weeks," with a constant pressure behind his eyes.

"I was like, I just cannot shake this headache for the life of me. I became used to it. I honestly just started going about my day with a headache," Schmidt, a journalist from Medicine Hat, Alta., said.

'Just a headache' — or is it COVID?

Headaches are common to viral infections, including colds and flu. They are often one of the earliest symptoms of COVID-19, which, physicians have noticed, can make it difficult to distinguish whether it's just a headache — or a sign of a developing illness.

Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease specialist in Mississauga, Ont., says he's seen patients present at emergency rooms with a severe headache and then test positive for COVID. 

But others might brush off a minor headache and not realize they're infected.

A headache can be an early sign of a COVID infection. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti says it's worth taking a rapid test, like this one photographed in Vancouver on April 10, during times of high community transmission. (David Horemans/CBC)

"So many people come and tell you, 'You know what? It was so weird, I had a little bit of headache, a little bit of a sore throat, I just thought I drank too much wine, but I was positive.'"

Chakrabarti said if someone develops a new headache in the middle of a rising wave of COVID, it's worth taking a rapid test.

He also points out that a sudden, severe headache can also be indicative of other medical emergencies, like a brain bleed, stroke or viral meningitis — some symptoms of which can be similar to those of COVID.

"If you're having a massive headache and a high fever, it's also a good idea to go to the emergency [room]. If you're having a bad headache and vomiting that won't stop, you go in as well."

Headaches that just won't quit

For some people, the headache just won't go away — long after they're no longer infected. Exactly why isn't yet well understood.

"There are multiple possibilities at this point, and I don't think we have a good handle on it yet," says Dr. Jennifer Frontera, a neurology professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, who is researching post-COVID conditions.

Some of those possibilities, she says, include complications from severe COVID, autoimmune conditions, high blood pressure impacting blood vessels in the brain, or even pandemic stress that results in tension headaches.

Given the number of potential causes, she says, "it's worth going to a clinician and seeing what the treatment strategies are."

The good news is that most long COVID patients respond to existing treatments for headaches and migraines, says Dr. Angela Cheung, a long COVID researcher based out of Toronto's University Health Network.

Dr. Angela Cheung, a senior scientist-clinician at Toronto's University Health Network, is studying the effects of long COVID. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Those treatments can include prescription medications, massage and mindfulness, depending on the diagnosis.

Cheung also reminds patients who despair about their long COVID symptoms that "it doesn't mean that you will have this forever." 

Her advice: "Trying to deal with what you're currently experiencing one step at a time, because we are learning so much every day with COVID."

Headaches and another infection

Though Kaplan-Myrth is still struggling through her daily headache, the Ottawa physician also has another worry: if she gets reinfected in future, will the headache return?

"The fear that I could get COVID again and go through this again, particularly when I'm not back to baseline as it is, is just like, I don't think I would cope," she said.

It's a concern shared by Schmidt, whose COVID headache finally went away after about three weeks.

"Now I actually live in just a tiny little bit of fear … Before, I was being careful because I pay attention and people told me to be careful," she said. "Now I'm being careful, because I'm actually legitimately concerned for myself."

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