A health worker administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic. (file photo)
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The most recent COVID-19 vaccine and this year’s flu shot are now available to the public in Grey-Bruce.
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Grey Bruce Public Health has announced that as of Monday the general public can receive the most recent XBB-containing COVID-19 vaccine and this year’s influenza vaccine from their primary care provider or at a participating pharmacy. The health unit is encouraging residents to get the vaccines as soon as possible.
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“Staying up to date on vaccinations remains the best defence against both COVID-19 and the flu,” GBPH Physician Consultant Dr. Rim Zayed said in a news release. “Both the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines have been shown to be safe as well as effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
“Vaccination is particularly important for individuals considered high-risk for developing serious complications from the flu or COVID-19, including adults aged 65 and up, residents of long-term care homes, people with underlying medical conditions , and First Nations residents.”
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Those facing barriers to getting vaccinated can book an appointment to receive the vaccines at a Grey Bruce Public Health clinic, the release said.
The health unit has been working to make it as convenient as possible to receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Residents with a primary care provider like a family physician can book their appointment with their doctor’s office. The health unit has created an online map of pharmacies, family health teams and other health-care organizations that are providing the vaccines to the public.
Regular COVID-19 and flu vaccines clinics are planned by the health unit in Owen Sound and other communities through November and December. The clinics will prioritize vaccinating children 12 and under, those without a primary care provider and those considered high-risk.
Those six months and older are considered up to date on COVID-19 vaccines if they received a dose this fall. The Ministry of Health recommends that those who have been previously vaccinated against COVID-19 receive a dose of the XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccine if it has been six months since their previous COVID vaccine dose or known infection. Those who have not been previously vaccinated may also receive the vaccine to initiate the series, the health unit said.
The flu vaccine is also recommended for those six months and older, and they can receive the COVID and flu shots at the same time.
Along with the vaccines, residents can protect themselves, their families and community from respiratory illness by staying home when sick, cleaning hands and disinfecting high-touch surfaces frequently and practicing coughing and sneezing etiquette, the health unit said.
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Newswise — Multiple studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccines do not lead to infertility or pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, but many people are still wary of adverse effects from the vaccine on pregnancy.
A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers now provides deeper insight into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people planning to become pregnant.
Published in the journal Human Reproduction, the study found no increased risk of early or late miscarriage as a result of male or female partners getting a COVID-19 vaccine prior to conceiving.
The study is the first to evaluate the risk of early miscarriage (less than eight weeks’ gestation) following preconception COVID-19 vaccination, as well as the first to evaluate male vaccination and miscarriage.
The researchers hope these results provide useful information for individuals planning to become pregnant, as well as their healthcare providers.
“These findings should be replicated in other populations, but are reassuring for couples who are planning pregnancy,” says lead author Jennifer Yland, an epidemiology PhD student at BUSPH at the time of the study.
For the study, Yland and colleagues analyzed survey data on COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage among female and male participants in the BUSPH-based Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing National Institutes of Health-funded study that enrolls women trying to conceive, and follows them from preconception through six months after delivery. Participants in this new analysis included 1,815 female individuals in the US and Canada who were followed in the study from December 2020 through November 2022. They were observed from their first positive pregnancy test until a miscarriage or other event (such as induced abortion, ectopic pregnancy, or 20 weeks’ gestation)—whichever occurred first.
Among the female participants, 75 percent had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the time they became pregnant. Almost a quarter of the pregnancies resulted in miscarriage, and 75 percent of these miscarriages occurred prior to 8 weeks’ gestation, but there was no increased risk.
Risk of miscarriage was 26.6 percent among unvaccinated female participants, 23.9 percent among female participants who had received one dose of the vaccine before conception, 24.5 percent among those who completed a full primary series before conception, 22.1 percent among those who completed the vaccine series three months before conception, and 20.1 percent among those who received only one dose of a two-dose vaccine before conception.
“The rate of miscarriage among vaccinated individuals was not only comparable with that of PRESTO participants who conceived before the pandemic, but our data indicated a slightly lower risk of miscarriage among vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated individuals,” Yland says.
Federal health officials continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination to individuals planning to conceive, and stress that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh potential risks of vaccination during preconception or pregnancy.
The study’s senior author is Lauren Wise, professor of epidemiology at BUSPH.
Multiple studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccines do not lead to infertility or pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, but many people are still wary of adverse effects from the vaccine on pregnancy.
A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers now provides deeper insight into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people planning to become pregnant.
The study is the first to evaluate the risk of early miscarriage (less than eight weeks' gestation) following preconception COVID-19 vaccination, as well as the first to evaluate male vaccination and miscarriage.
The researchers hope these results provide useful information for individuals planning to become pregnant, as well as their health care providers.
"These findings should be replicated in other populations, but are reassuring for couples who are planning pregnancy," says lead author Jennifer Yland, an epidemiology Ph.D. student at BUSPH at the time of the study.
For the study, Yland and colleagues analyzed survey data on COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage among female and male participants in the BUSPH-based Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing study that enrolls women trying to conceive, and follows them from preconception through six months after delivery.
Participants in this new analysis included 1,815 female individuals in the US and Canada who were followed in the study from December 2020 through November 2022. They were observed from their first positive pregnancy test until a miscarriage or other event (such as induced abortion, ectopic pregnancy, or 20 weeks' gestation)—whichever occurred first.
Among the female participants, 75% had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the time they became pregnant. Almost a quarter of the pregnancies resulted in miscarriage, and 75% of these miscarriages occurred prior to eight weeks' gestation, but there was no increased risk.
Risk of miscarriage was 26.6% among unvaccinated female participants, 23.9% among female participants who had received one dose of the vaccine before conception, 24.5% among those who completed a full primary series before conception, 22.1% among those who completed the vaccine series three months before conception, and 20.1% among those who received only one dose of a two-dose vaccine before conception.
"The rate of miscarriage among vaccinated individuals was not only comparable with that of PRESTO participants who conceived before the pandemic, but our data indicated a slightly lower risk of miscarriage among vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated individuals," Yland says.
Federal health officials continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination to individuals planning to conceive, and stress that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh potential risks of vaccination during preconception or pregnancy.
More information: Jennifer J Yland et al, A prospective cohort study of preconception COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage, Human Reproduction (2023). DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead211
Citation: Study finds COVID vaccination in female or male partners does not increase risk of miscarriage (2023, October 31) retrieved 31 October 2023 from https://ift.tt/hCgOxPL
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Ontario is lowering the age for regular, publicly funded breast cancer screenings from 50 to 40, which Health Minister Sylvia Jones says will help with early detection.
Jones said Monday that the expansion will mean an additional 130,000 mammograms are completed in the province each year.
"Nearly 12,000 Ontarians are diagnosed with breast cancer each and every year," she said at a news conference announcing the change.
"We know early detection through regular screening with mammograms can save lives, detecting breast cancer before it has the chance to spread, and with this historic expansion more mammograms will be performed each and every year, ensuring breast cancer is caught earlier and treated sooner."
The move follows a draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force earlier this year that said screenings in that country should start at 40 instead of 50, because evidence suggests that would have a moderate benefit in reducing deaths.
The change in Ontario means that starting in fall 2024, eligible women, non-binary, trans and two-spirit people between the ages of 40 and 74 can self refer for a mammogram every two years.
People can already get regular mammograms and breast MRIs between the ages of 30 and 69 if they qualify as high risk, such as those with a family history of breast cancer or people who carry certain genes known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
The ministry says that between now and next fall, sites that offer breast cancer screening will hire new staff and work with the government to develop a public reporting system so patients can see wait times provincewide.
Sherry Wilcox, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year at the age of 44, said she started asking about mammograms when she turned 40, but was told she wasn't eligible.
"To all of the women who are breast cancer survivors and patients and to the families of those who have passed — this announcement is a recognition of what you have endured," she said.
"While it may be too late for us, this is an incredible opportunity for others going forward that hopefully will not have to bear the negative consequences of a later diagnosis. If you are a woman in your 40s, go, please, and get a mammogram and for everyone else tell your daughters, sisters, mothers, coworkers to get screened."
Screening shown to reduce mortality by up to 44%
Dr. Martin Yaffe, a co-program director of the imaging program at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, said screening has been shown to reduce mortality by up to 44 per cent.
"If the cancers are found earlier, often women can be spared the harsher aspects of therapy," he said in an interview.
"So they might be able to have a lumpectomy — or breast conserving surgery, as it's called — versus a mastectomy. They may be able to avoid chemotherapy, which is a nasty experience, and they may also be able to avoid having ... surgery in the armpit to remove lymph nodes."
It is also beneficial for the health system as a whole, he said.
"Some of my colleagues in Ottawa and myself have recently published a paper looking at the cost of treating breast cancer and shown very clearly that if you treat it at earlier stages, it's much less expensive, sometimes by a factor of 20 to 30 times less expensive than when you're treating advanced, more advanced cancers," Yaffe said.
Welcome news
However, he said the program would be even more beneficial if screening was offered to women in that age group annually, instead of once every two years. Premenopausal cancers tend to grow faster and be more aggressive, Yaffe said, meaning screenings at two-year intervals could still miss cases.
Dense Breasts Canada, a non-profit group that raises awareness about optimal breast cancer screening, said the news is particularly welcome for Black, Asian and Hispanic women, who have earlier onset and peak breast cancer incidence in their late 40s.
"Getting screened before age 50 allows thousands of women to have their cancer detected earlier, when it is easier to treat," executive director Jennie Dale wrote in a statement.
"Lives depend on early screening."
A spokesperson for Jones said Ontario Health is working on determining how many staff will need to be hired, so was unable to say at this point how much funding will go toward the expansion.
Ontario is lowering the age for regular, publicly funded breast cancer screenings from 50 to 40, which Health Minister Sylvia Jones says will help with early detection.
Jones is set to make the announcement later on Monday and says the expansion will mean an additional 130,000 mammograms are completed in the province each year.
The move follows a draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force earlier this year that said screenings in that country should start at 40 instead of 50, because evidence suggests that would have a moderate benefit in reducing deaths.
The change in Ontario means that starting in the fall of 2024, eligible women, non-binary, trans and two-spirit people between the ages of 40 and 74 can self refer for a mammogram every two years.
People can already get regular mammograms and breast MRIs between the ages of 30 and 69 if they qualify as high risk, such as those with a family history of breast cancer or people who carry certain genes known to increase the risk of breast cancer.
The ministry says that between now and next fall, sites that offer breast cancer screening will hire new staff and work with the government to develop a public reporting system so patients can see provincewide wait times.
“Nearly 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and we know early detection and increased access to care saves lives,” Jones said in a statement.
“That is why our government is taking this important step today to expand the Ontario Breast Screening Program to connect an additional one million women to the services they need to ensure timely access to treatment and save lives.”
Sherry Wilcox, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 40s, said this change is important.
“I am so grateful that, with this announcement, other women may not have to endure the pain of a later diagnosis as I have,” she wrote in a supportive quote to go along with Jones’ press release.
“Research shows that early detection of breast cancer results in less aggressive therapy and reduced mortality rates –this announcement will save lives.”
A spokesperson for Jones said Ontario Health is working on determining how many staff will need to be hired, so was unable to say at this point how much funding will go toward the expansion.
Doctors say it’s vital to get an updated version of a COVID-19 vaccine because they offer protection against the subvariant driving a current spike in cases.
They also say most Canadians are well past the six-month mark at which immunity fades after previous shots or infections.
Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine, professor of community health and epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan, says people seem to be experiencing COVID amnesia.
He says communication efforts to break through that amnesia and emphasize the importance of getting the vaccine have been “less than optimal.”
There are two new COVID-19 vaccines — reformulated by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna — to fight the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant, which has become dominant across the country.
Provincial and territorial governments now have information posted on their websites about who is eligible to get the updated COVID-19 vaccines, where to get them and links to book appointments or find participating pharmacies.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that everyone six months of age and older get the XBB.1.5 vaccine if it has been six months or longer since their last shot or infection.
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A new study shows promising results about getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. What’s passed from mother to baby may be life-saving.
This new study shows that getting the COVID-19 vaccine may not only be critical for mom and baby’s good health, but it’s also linked to lower risk of poor neonatal outcomes.
Researchers in “JAMA Pediatrics” found remarkable health outcome differences in newborns when moms chose at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant. The antibodies formed against the virus in mom are passed from mother to child in utero.
When researchers compared babies after birth of moms who weren’t vaccinated to those who did get vaccinated, they found a drop in death rates from 0.16% to 0.09%, a drop in the need for NICU admissions after birth from 13.1% to 11.4% and a drop in severe complications from a disease or medical condition from 8.3% to 7.3%.
“The need for treatment for jaundice, the need for IV fluids, the need for any type of oxygen therapy - those things that can potentially happen after birth,” said Dr. Kristin Coppage, system chief of women’s services at TriHealth.
She said most women who are pregnant report uncertainty about vaccine safety is their top reason for avoiding them. But this new data is now available about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.
"If you do get the vaccine in pregnancy, it is safe. Your baby is going to be protected, and it doesn't cause more harm to your baby,” Dr. Coppage said.
Researchers found the vaccine was safe, no matter which trimester moms got the shot. That is critical information, considering pregnancy itself put moms and babies at greater risk for complications from any virus.
"Your immune system is suppressed when you're pregnant. We're making in a sense a foreign being in our bodies. Half of us is like us and the other half is like the father of the baby, and so our body doesn't want to reject that growing and developing baby, and so everything is suppressed,” Dr. Coppage said.
She said one note is that even if moms follow all other suggestions for a healthy pregnancy – from prenatal vitamins to checkups – virus protection is also a critical step for a healthy baby.
The Saskatchewan health ministry’s latest COVID-19 numbers show an increase in positive tests.
According to the newest Community Respiratory Illness Surveillance Program report (CRSIP) covering the week from Oct. 8 to 21, there were 735 positive tests.
In the previous reporting period from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7, there were 499 positive tests.
Four more deaths have been linked to COVID-19 in Saskatchewan during the newest reporting period, compared to four in the last reporting period.
There were 17 ICU admissions for COVID-19 in this reporting period, compared to 16 in the last report.
Twenty-three COVID-19 outbreaks were reported in a high-risk setting in the newest reporting period, compared to 15 in the last reporting period.
According to the report, 46.6 of the eligible population in the province is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.
Seven hospitals in Alberta, including several in Edmonton, have introduced enhanced masking protocols amidst ongoing influenza and COVID-19 surges.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) rolled out an “enhanced masking directive” on October 11, 2023, with the primary objective of curbing the transmission of COVID-19 within acute care environments.
True North previously reported that this directive enables health zone leaders to require enhanced masking mandates for AHS staff, physicians, students, volunteers, and others.
Following implementation, masking is required for patients, designated support persons, and visitors in Emergency Departments. Sites can also require people to mask in additional areas, such as cancer units.
Signage is posted where masking is required.
Attendees are not required to mask if they are under two years old, in their bed space, or unable to place, use, or remove a mask without assistance.
Masking is optional for visitors and designated family support persons outside of Emergency Departments, even when the directive is implemented.
In certain hospitals such as the Alberta Hospital Edmonton, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Grey Nuns Community Hospital, Misericordia Community Hospital, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Stollery Children’s Hospital, and the University of Alberta Hospital, masking is mandatory for everyone in emergency departments and labour and triage areas.
Despite these clear regulations, the directive states that AHS leadership “may implement masking requirements beyond this Directive if identified in their risk assessment.”
While AHS has empowered regional hospitals with these directives, they have yet to clarify if this enhanced masking will be compulsory across all healthcare facilities in Alberta.
“Masking is […] optional at continuing care and Addiction and Mental Health settings that are not within an acute care site,” said the provincial health agency.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has previously voiced her concerns about the approach of AHS. She believes in greater flexibility that reflects regional circumstances.
AHS told the Toronto Star that while they offer directives, regions and hospitals retain the autonomy to adapt as they see fit.
AHS highlighted their intent: “Zone and site teams would work together to find solutions that best look after patients.”
“This directive supports zone and site leadership to determine if enhanced masking is necessary,” wrote an AHS spokesperson.
Premier Smith has commissioned Health Minister Adriana LaGrange to work on decentralizing the health agency further, with developments anticipated this fall.
As reported by rdnewsNOW, AHS assured the public that refusing to wear a mask would not result in denied medical services.
“If a patient or visitor is unable to or declines to mask in these areas, care teams will work with them to ensure patients receive the care they need while taking steps to also protect others in hospital,” an AHS spokesperson told rdnewsNOW.
“This may include providing a face shield or other PPE or moving patients to available isolation or private spaces,” they added.
In cases where individuals choose not to mask, healthcare teams will strategize to protect both the patient and others present, potentially employing alternative protective equipment or designated isolation spaces.
The decision to intensify masking protocols came after several hospital outbreaks and an uptick in COVID-related hospitalizations.
Recent data shown by the Alberta respiratory virus dashboard shows that between October 8 and 14, Alberta witnessed 948 new COVID cases, 171 hospital admissions related to the virus, seven ICU admissions, and seven fatalities.
As of October 24, there are 34 units with COVID-19 outbreaks in hospitals across Alberta. The hospital with the most outbreaks is the Royal Alexandra Hospital, with ten units on COVID-19 outbreaks.
The Dose24:13What are the best ways to treat a cold?
Featured VideoOral cold and cough medicine containing a popular decongestant was pulled from some U.S. pharmacy shelves this week. This comes after a panel of experts said phenylephrine is no better than a dummy pill at relieving congestion. But what actually works to treat cold symptoms? Family doctor and CBC Radio house doctor Dr. Peter Lin provides tips on how best to treat a cold or cough, and weighs in on popular home remedies. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
There are dozens of cold and cough medicines on the market, and many home remedies claiming to help — like a bowl of chicken soup.
Phenylephrine is found in popular cold and sinus remedies like Sudafed and Dayquil.
Products containing the decongestant are still available in Canadian and some U.S. pharmacies. A Health Canada spokesperson says they are reviewing "all available information," including the advice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's advisory panel of experts.
One Canadian doctor says he expects it's only a matter of time before oral products with phenylephrine as the main ingredient start disappearing in Canada, too.
"Don't worry about it, because it wasn't doing much at all," Dr. Peter Lin, a family physician in Toronto and CBC Radio's house doctor, told Dr. Brian Goldman, host of The Dose podcast.
CVS Health, a U.S. pharmacy chain, is pulling from its shelves some cough-and-cold treatments that contain phenylephrine, which has been deemed ineffective by doctors and researchers. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Before trying anything, doctors say it's important to remember that the common cold virus just needs to run its course.
"A lot of us just think we can medicate away the symptoms that we have. But sometimes you need to give your body a rest in order to be able to heal properly," said Dr. Melissa Lem, a Vancouver-based family doctor and clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia.
She says there's not much harm in trying some of the common remedies to treat a cold, like an herbal supplement. But it's important to know what the research shows about its effectiveness.
But if you're looking to lessen some of the symptoms of a cold, here's what doctors say can help to treat symptoms.
Try to avoid viruses
Lin says making sure you get the latest COVID-19 booster and the flu shot — and for seniors, the RSV vaccine — can all help to protect someone from catching a virus in the first place.
Lem recommends the following measures to try and avoid viruses:
Sanitize your hands frequently
Wear a mask
Ventilate indoor spaces
"If we use the layered approach, we will have an OK time getting across the cold and flu season," Lin said.
Some medications can help
Lin and Lem say they still get patients coming to their office during the cold and flu season asking for antibiotics. But in most cases, patients are dealing with the common cold, and antibiotics won't help their symptoms, according to Lem.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and to stop bacteria from multiplying, according to Health Canada.
Lem says the average cold lasts up to 10 days. But when those symptoms hit, Lin says people often turn to over-the-counter products in hopes of feeling better as soon as possible.
He adds that for most adults, over-the-counter cold and cough medicine won't cause harm if taken correctly, but they don't necessarily always help, either. He points to the recent decision from the FDA panel of experts about phenylephrine.
"That's why they have to do trials, to show is there a benefit or no benefit," he said.
However, some over-the-counter cold and cough medicine may help symptoms, Lin says. Medicine containing cough suppressants can help address a dry cough, and products containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help lower fevers.
WATCH | Doctors answer your questions about the new COVID-19 vaccine:
Doctor answers your questions about the new COVID-19 vaccine
2 months ago
Duration 4:50
Featured VideoInfectious diseases specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger answers viewer questions about the newly approved COVID-19 vaccines, their effectiveness against the latest variants and the best time to get another shot.
Cold medicine with an anti-inflammatory can take away any minor pain, he adds. But Lin emphasizes it's hard to know definitively if people would have gotten better on their own or if the medicine helped.
"The Canadian Pediatric Society was pretty clear that we should be avoiding these things."
Home remedies
Chicken soup is a common suggestion to help those get better — and there is some research to show that it may actually help.
A peer-reviewed study published in 2000 found that chicken soup — when it includes vegetables — "may contain a number of substances with beneficial medicinal activity."
The study's authors from the University of Nebraska Medical Center also noted that a "mild anti-inflammatory effect" could be a reason why chicken soup helps address upper respiratory tract infections.
Some home remedies like chicken soup and a humidifier can help with congestion, doctors say. (Shutterstock)
The steam from the hot liquid "may open up congested noses and throats" — but it will not cure your cold, say doctors with New York City's Mount Sinai health system.
"I think soups, fluids, that kind of thing are fantastic and they are a nice alternative to spending money on drugstore remedies that may not have the best evidence," Lem said.
She's also a fan of honey in a warm liquid for anyone over a year old to help soothe a sore throat. Gargling with warm water and salt can also help, Lin says.
Lin and Lem add that nasal rinses can help get rid of backup in the nasal sinuses. "I'm a big fan of neti pots and sinus irrigation because sometimes you just can't get the gunk out without flushing it with fluid," Lem said.
She adds that it's important when using a nasal rinse to boil your water or use saline to avoid getting a rare fungal infection.
Lin also recommends leaning over hot water in a cup or using a humidifier to keep the throat moist. He says when someone has a stuffy nose, they'll breathe through their mouth, which can dry out the throat.
"That's why the humidifier is helpful."
What about vitamins?
Vitamins and herbal remedies, such as vitamin C and zinc, are often suggested to help get over a cold or avoid one altogether.
Lem says the evidence on their effectiveness "is really conflicting." Research into zinc for treating the common cold has shown mixed results, according to one meta analysis.
Authors of a meta-analysis on vitamin C found that taking the vitamin every day over a longer period of time didn't prevent colds or show consistent benefits if you take it after you've already developed symptoms. However they did find that it slightly shortened the amount of time people were sick by about 10 per cent.
While Lem says taking these vitamins won't cause harm if taken appropriately, "I would say the main drawback would be spending your money on things that don't work."
Lem does caution that when taken in higher-than-recommended daily amounts, vitamin C can be harmful and can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Is it a cold or something else?
Lem says the symptoms of COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can vary "so much depending on your age, underlying conditions and immune response." She says that can make it really difficult to tell if you have symptoms caused by either of these or another virus.
If you're still unsure of what virus you may have, Alberta Health Services has a list of the most frequent symptoms for common viruses. If you are getting sicker, have new or worse trouble breathing, have a new or high fever or a new rash, HealthLink BC recommends people seek immediate medical help.
When to seek help
It's important to know when cold symptoms become serious, Lem says.
She recommends a person see a doctor or visits their local emergency room as soon as possible if they're experiencing:
Flu and cold season is well underway in Manitoba and as the province still grapples with a struggling health-care system, experts are urging people to try and reduce transmission.
“Washing our hands, physically distancing as we’re able, staying home when we’re sick — those are all things that we can do to help take care of ourselves and take care of each other,” Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said.
And unfortunately, experts say COVID-19 is still very much around and people should be taking precautions as it spreads.
Numbers released by the province Friday show that 44 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 last week, three of whom required intensive care.
Cases of the virus have been relatively stable over the past few weeks but Natalie Knox with the National Microbiology Lab says that’s likely to change soon.
“Generally, people tend to shed the virus before they start to really get very sick and show up at the hospitals. That’s why the wastewater signal can really be sort of a great forewarning for what’s going to happen in our community,” Knox said.
Manitoba top doctor urges vaccination as flu and virus season nears
Winnipeg and Brandon monitor their wastewater for COVID-19, and while levels are still moderate, they are increasing.
“We need to take steps to be able to respond to additional pressures on the health-care system. And we know that there are some challenges in our emergency departments and urgent care,” Uzoma said.
After lifting the mask mandate in May this year the province re-introduced the mandate for health-care workers in hospitals, personal care homes and other health-care facilities on Oct. 18.
However, when it comes to mandating the public to wear masks again, Uzoma says that isn’t something that is being explored at this time.
Vaccinations for both COVID-19 and the flu are available at various pharmacies.
About three-quarters of Manitobans have had at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but Ryan Chan with the Exchange District Pharmacy says there’s plenty of demand for boosters and flu shots alike.
“After six months, the protection you had from the vaccine kind of wears off so that’s where the booster comes in, to boost your immune system,” Chan said.
If Manitobans so choose, they can get the COVID-19 vaccine and flu shots at the same time by booking an appointment at a pharmacy or clinic close to them.
A retired Windsor, Ont., nurse is pushing to have the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine be made available at no cost for seniors.
Currently, Ontario covers the shot for people 60 and up who live in long-term care, elder-care lodges and some retirement homes.
Stephanie Champ, 65, said for many seniors like herself who are on fixed incomes, up to $300 per dose is unaffordable.
She said she started an online petition after hearing from a childhood friend.
"The reason I started this is [because] my friend has a respiratory illness," said Champ.
"She has asthma. It's very serious. She went to get that shot and they said that would be $300. I'm just appalled because I think we haven't learned anything from the COVID virus."
Arexvy is the RSV vaccine approved by Health Canada. (Submitted by GSK)
Champ said if seniors get ill with RSV, it would overwhelm the hospital system once again as it did during the pandemic, and the idea to keep them safe and healthy should be top of mind for every government decision.
"They're offering it for people in long-term care homes, but the independent seniors have to pay through the nose. With this economy, it's very hard for a lot of people to make ends meet.
If not free for all seniors, the shots should be heavily subsidized, according to Champ, and include all ages.
"I don't want to get it. Like, when you have an autoimmune problem, it makes you particularly vulnerable. It kind of scares me going into the fall. I want to mask up because I'm scared, like going into group settings."
File photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows an electron micrograph of RSV. (CDC/The Associated Press)
There's concern by some that the cost could end up being too expensive for those who need it most.
Arexvy is the first vaccine approved by Health Canada to fight RSV. The virus normally causes mild illness but can make older adults and young children quite sick.
In some provinces, like Alberta and New Brunswick, shots for seniors aren't covered at all.
Anne Summach, a nurse practitioner in Alberta, said older adults with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk — especially people who have had heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Dose21:26What do we know about the new RSV vaccine, especially its cost?
"Certainly important … a valuable tool in the toolbox," Summach recently told CBC Radio's The Dose, referring to the need for getting the RSV vaccination.
Summach said it's shown to be 82 per cent effective for older adults, and can impact their resilience and reduce hospitalizations and deaths.
The co-chair of the Windsor-Essex Health Coalition said opening up the vaccine to all seniors in the province is a "no-brainer."
Patrick Hannon said the Ontario government should definitely fund it.
"It's unfortunate when a vaccine is $280 compared to the price of going into the ER in respiratory distress," he said. "You have various tests and such there. Why wouldn't the province allow people to receive this vaccine?"
Patrick Hannon of the Windsor-Essex Health Coalition says the province covering the cost of the RSV vaccines is a 'no-brainer.' (Dale Molnar/CBC)
Ontario's Ministry of Health said its approach to RSV for this season is targeting the "most vulnerable" populations in its vaccination rollout programs.
"Our government is ensuring Ontarians, especially those at the highest risk of transmission and severe outcomes, have access to the tools they need to keep themselves safe and healthy this fall respiratory season," the office of Health Minister Sylvia Jones said in an emailed statement.
"Ontario is one of the only provinces to roll out a publicly funded vaccination program of the first Health Canada approved RSV vaccine," it stated, in reference to Ontarians 60 and older living in long-term care homes and some retirement residences.
PARRSBORO, NS –The Parrsboro Urgent Treatment Centre, located at South Cumberland Community Care Centre, is being renovated to help better support patient care.
Renovations are scheduled to start Monday, Oct. 30.
All services will continue to be provided at South Cumberland Community Care Centre during the renovations. While work is underway, services will be provided with less available space and using different care spaces. Patients and visitors are asked to follow instructions and posted signage, and to use caution in any areas where work is underway.
The Parrsboro Urgent Treatment Centre opened in December 2021, providing care for people with unexpected, non-life-threatening health concerns that require same or next day treatment. As the number of patients and visits per day continues to increase, the centre is undergoing this necessary renovation to make the centre more spacious for staff and patients, and improve the patient experience.
The project will be completed in phases and is expected to take four to six weeks.
The urgent treatment centre will be fully accessible during the renovation with no change to how appointments are booked.
We thank residents for their patience and cooperation during the renovation.
Updates and any potential service disruptions will be shared with the public as the renovation progresses.
NEWS RELEASE
ST. JOSEPH'S GENERAL HOSPITAL ELLIOT LAKE
*************************
St. Joseph’s General Hospital Elliot Lake (SJGHEL) would like to advise the public that a COVID-19 outbreak was declared on the third floor of our Acute Care Hospital today by Algoma Public Health.
SJGHEL strongly recommends limiting or restricting visitation at this current time, keeping it to essential and compassionate circumstances.
For the betterment of patients and staff, visitors are required to be masked on the third floor of the Acute Care Hospital.
SJGHEL reminds everyone there are several things that can be done to protect yourself and others from respiratory viruses:
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
Ensure full immunization including booster doses for those who are eligible.
Wear a mask in public spaces.
If you are not feeling well, stay home and rest, or contact your primary health care provider.
Observe social-distancing and respiratory etiquette.
Reduce indoor air pollution via adequate ventilation where possible.
For more information on respiratory viruses, please contact Algoma Public Health at (705) 9424646 ext. 5404 or contact your family health care provider.
SJGHEL will update information on the Hospital outbreak as our information changes or more information becomes available.
More hospitals and Alberta Health Services locations across the province are adding enhanced masking in the face of increasing spread of COVID-19.
The directive requires staff, physicians, volunteers and lab workers to wear masks when in spaces when they are in patient-facing spaces like care areas, hallways, foyers, cafeterias, or gift shops.
Patients and visitors are not required to wear a mask in those areas, but are required when in emergency departments and labour and delivery assessment/triage areas in those facilities.
On Tuesday, six more sites in the Edmonton zone decided to add masks:
Devon General Hospital
Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital
Northeast Community Health Centre (14007 50 St. in Edmonton)
Leduc Community Hospital
Strathcona Community Hospital (in Sherwood Park)
Westview Health Centre (in Stony Plain)
On Friday, the Cross Cancer Institute also added enhanced masking for workers there, but does not require masking for patients and visitors “except for areas where staff determine masking is required.”
AHS said signage will be in place where masking is required.
A total of 14 AHS sites are now using the enhanced masking directive two weeks after it was put in place by the provincial health authority.
Edmonton pharmacies busy after first week of flu and COVID vaccines
Acute care outbreaks
Also on Tuesday, AHS released updated information on acute care outbreaks in the province.
The total number of patients, health-care workers and hospital units involved in outbreaks declined from the week before, for the first time since the province marked a new respiratory virus season.
By zone, the North, Central and Calgary zones saw declines in numbers.
The Edmonton Zone had the same number of patients as last week involved in COVID-19 outbreak, as well as a slight increase in health-care workers and only one fewer unit in outbreak.
The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton continues to have a high number of patients, workers and units in outbreak, with 10 units, 98 patients and 24 healthcare workers currently affected. On Sept. 19, the Royal Alex only had one unit of three patients in outbreak.
An outbreak is declared when at least one person is determined to have caught the airborne virus in hospital.
According to the province’s respiratory virus dashboard, there were 361 COVID cases in hospital as of Oct. 14, and 13 in ICU — roughly double that of the previous week.
Many Nova Scotians aged 65 years and older have listened to doctor’s orders: get vaccinated.
Graham MacKenzie, pharmacist and owner of Stone’s Pharmasave in Baddeck, said his clinic went through its inventory of high-dose influenza vaccines in a couple of days.
“That high dose one was gobbled up immediately,” MacKenzie said in an interview Tuesday.
The vaccine is offered to older Nova Scotians for free this flu season – a first for the province.
MacKenzie said it’s not surprising as people aged 65 and up are “historically the most receptive population by far of any vaccine.”
However, it’s a different story when it comes to the COVID-19 and influenza vaccine for people under the age of 65.
MacKenzie said his pharmacy hosted its first standard-dose influenza vaccination clinic Tuesday morning and only administered about 30 shots, when they could have done up to 60 shots.
The turnout is on par with the results of a survey recently done on behalf of the Canadian Pharmacists Association.
Pharmacist Chintan Prajapati gives a COVID booster to Janet McNamara at the Brookline Pharmasave in Bedford on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. - Ryan Taplin
Only 56 per cent of Atlantic Canadians said they will get an influenza vaccine this fall, according to the survey.
Despite the number being rather low overall, it’s still an 11-point increase since last flu season.
However, 38 per cent of people said they won’t be getting an influenza vaccine this year.
Meanwhile, 50 per cent of Atlantic Canadians said they planned to get a COVID-19 vaccine this year.
MacKenzie stressed it’s important that people of all ages get their vaccines.
“You’re trying to, well, number one, keep yourself from dying and out of the hospital,” he said. “You’re trying to also perhaps not get the virus and you’re also trying to not spread it to somebody else.”
MacKenzie acknowledged people 65 and older are most vulnerable to influenza, RSV and COVID-19, but said “that’s what we’re trying to prevent” with vaccines.
“People feel, ‘I’m kind of invincible when I’m 30 years old, why bother?’ but really, the virus can still mess around with you when you’re perfectly healthy. That’s what these viruses do to you,” he said.
MacKenzie recommended people get their vaccines earlier in the flu season as it takes a couple of weeks for the vaccine to take effect.
“Testing eligibility guidelines and the use of multiplex respiratory virus testing affect the number of cases identified and reported,” the report reads.
“Because not everyone gets tested or is eligible for testing, the numbers reported here under-represent the true burden of disease in the community.
“The implementation of multiplex testing has likely led to increased detection of cases of other respiratory pathogens, including RSV.”
Public Health supports access to COVID-19 and influenza immunization, as well as COVID-19 testing across the province. All upcoming clinics can be found online at https://t.co/kxy2l3EmL8. pic.twitter.com/qWcNX5pfGI
Since the beginning of the season, which runs from Aug. 27, 2023, to Aug. 24, 2024, there have been non-ICU hospitalizations related to influenza. Meanwhile, there have been 106 non-ICU hospitalizations, five people admitted to ICU and nine deaths due to COVID-19.
The Health Department said RSV “is not a notifiable disease in Nova Scotia.”
MacKenzie said pharmacies across Nova Scotia are to receive shipments of high-dose influenza vaccines, influenza vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines throughout the season. Pharmacies will then look at their numbers and look to order more if needed.
“I think we’re just kind of feeling out to see how much we’re going through right now just so we’re not wasting any,” he said.
Pharmacist Chintan Prajapati draws a vial of Moderna at his pharmacy in Bedford on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. - Ryan Taplin
Nova Scotians are able to book their vaccine appointments online or by calling 1-833-797-7772. People may receive their influenza and COVID vaccine at the same appointment where available.
MacKenzie also said some pharmacies, such as his own, often administer standard-dose vaccines to people who don’t have an appointment.
“It only takes a minute to do a shot, so if someone comes in with their health card, as long as we’re open, we’re happy to be able to fit them in,” he said.
With the high-dose influenza vaccine in high demand, MacKenzie said it’s often not possible for people to receive their dose without an appointment.
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