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COVID-19 vaccine news: Britain’s ‘historic’ day, Facebook cracks down, and vaccination based on age? Here’s what you need to know this week

Jul 22, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Considered one of the few ways to finally bring the pandemic under control, the push to roll out a fully tested vaccine is well underway.

This week, the U.K. approved the world’s first such COVID-19 vaccine. Canada is expected to make its decision on approval for the same Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine within weeks.

With the prospect of fully-tested vaccine doses looming ever larger, the spotlight has now shifted to issues of distribution, bringing to the fore questions of who should get a vaccine first; how shipments will travel to all regions of the country; and how governments can resassure the public about the safety of any vaccine.

From what the British news means for Canadians, to why experts say seniors should be first to be vaccinated, to Facebook’s crackdown on misinformation — here are the big stories from this past week.

The first COVID-19 vaccine is approved in Britain

On a day that is not-unfairly being heralded as “historic,” the United Kingdom officially approved the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine for use in the country this week.

That means their scientists finished reviewing the hundreds of thousands of pages of data on its safety and effectiveness generated from human testing, and officially greenlit it for use in their country. Officials say immunization will begin there next week.

This doesn’t mean anything for Canada in the short term, as each country must make its own the decision on whether to approve a vaccine for its citizen people. Federal scientists here aren’t quite finished their review of the evidence, but say a decision could be coming as early as next week.

But Dr. Earl Brown, a former member of Canada’s H1N1 vaccine task group, says that while each country’s regulator will do its own analysis, the fact that one has now reached a positive conclusion bodes well.

“They’re all looking at the same set of data,” says Brown, who is also a virologist at the University of Ottawa.

“So it will actually take the pressure off some, because when you aren’t the first one, you are the second one; that’s always reassuring.”

Here in Canada, officials say they’re continuing to work toward distribution as early as January, with first doses going to the most vulnerable.

Canadian seniors may be front of the line

Long-term care residents, workers and the elderly should be first in line for vaccination jabs, according to updated advice from Canada’s independent advisory panel.

The National Advisory Council on Immunization (NaCI) provided for immunization prioritization in early November, and has since narrowed down its advice. Its current list is based on the general idea that vaccines will be in short supply at first. Federal officials have said they hope to have enough for three million people in Canada by the end of March.

Who should be first continues to be a hot topic. While NaCI will provide guidelines, the final decision will be up to the provinces and territories, the leaders of many of which have said they intend to focus on the most vulnerable.

Most experts include health-care workers in that category, as well as people who work in essential services, those who have conditions that put them at high risk, or live in situations where infection would have outsized consequences, including First Nations.

However, these guidelines have not been without controversy.

In Manitoba, Premier Brian Pallister — who also went viral for his to obey health measures this week — drew fire for saying he wanted extra vaccines for his province because sending doses to First Nations communities first would “punish” non-Indigenous people.

“They have to step up and protect our Indigenous communities first … but not punish everyone else who lives in the same jurisdiction as Indigenous folks by shortchanging them on their share of vaccines,” he said, according to .

Proof of vaccination

Americans who receive a COVID-19 vaccine will get a card to prove it, their government said this week.

“When we sent out the ancillary kits, which have needles and syringes, we’ve included paper cards to be filled out and … given to the individuals, reminding them of their next vaccine due date,” quoted Army Gen. Gustave Perna, Operation Warp Speed’s chief operating officer, as saying at a briefing Wednesday.

A sample of the card shows places to write which vaccine a person received and when, as well as who administered it.

The cards will also serve as an important reminder, because the vaccines expected to roll out first in the new year — those made by Pfizer and Moderna — are two-dose regimes. In order for them to work, people will have to get both doses, spaced several weeks apart. You can’t mix and match, either, so it’ll be critical that people stick with the same company for both doses.

Presidential show of support

Many vaccine experts have long pointed out that a vaccine is only as good as the number of people who take it.

In the U.S., the shot may get a high-profile boost. According to , former American presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are all saying that, when the time comes, they’ll roll up their sleeves on camera in a show of support for the vaccine’s safety.

It was Bush who reportedly got the ball rolling, according to his chief of staff, who said the 43rd president had reached out to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Instittue of Allergy and Infectious Disease and the main face of the American coronavirus response, and asked how he could help get the word out.

“When the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated,” Freddy Ford told CNN.

“First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, president Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera.”

Facebook cracks down on misinformation

Following in YouTube’s footsteps, Facebook said this week that it is cracking down on posts that spread misinformation about vaccines.

“Given the recent news that COVID-19 vaccines will soon be rolling out around the world, over the coming weeks we will start removing false claims about these vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts on Facebook and Instagram,” the social media behemoth said in a Thursday.

Examples of false claims? Incorrect statements about the vaccines’ safety, efficacy or side effects; claims that the vaccines contain microchips or anything that isn’t on the ingredient list; and conspiracy theories about why the vaccines were made, according the post.

The move expands its existing attempts to stamp down misinformation about the coronavirus that could lead to “imminent physical harm.”

The company notes it won’t be able to start enforcement right away, but will continue to update what counts as misinformation as more information about vaccines become available.

Alex Boyd is a Calgary-based reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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Had a baby during the pandemic? Midland’s Well Baby clinic is here to help

Jul 15, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Having a baby during the pandemic adds an extra layer of worry for new parents, says a registered nurse.

“A lot of moms are scared when they come in — Scared about doing something wrong, and nobody has told them what to do. And it’s COVID-19,” says Rebecca Sloan, who is part of the Well Baby team, operating out of the North Simcoe Family Health Team at in Midland.

The disadvantage of having a baby during the pandemic is there is less physical support for new parents and less access to community resources, said Sloan.

That’s why she’s trying to get the word out about the Well Baby program. It’s an OHIP-supported program available for parents of children, from birth to age three, which has now converted to offering the majority of appointments over the phone.

Sloan was recently a part of the Midland Cultural Centre’s ‘Our Health: World of my Baby’ virtual program, where she said every family can benefit from the program that offers baby check-ups at each milestone, as well as a connection to a registered nurse, dietician, social worker and nurse practitioner.

“You’ve got four different professions until they are three years old,” said Sloan.

Well Baby staff also communicate with clients’ family doctors and specialists.

Mom Rebecca Merkley didn’t think she needed the extra help through the clinic, but then her second baby developed severe allergies.

“At five months, my husband gave her peanut butter and she got a big rash on her face. We went to an allergist in Barrie and discovered she is allergic to any dairy, all kinds of nuts and eggs,” said Merkley.

“For a while, it was pretty scary,” said Merkley, because those ingredients are in all types of food, including infant cereal.

Going into the Well Baby clinic made all the difference.

“I’d recommend it to any new mom for sure. They answer all your questions. They give you so much information,” said Merkley.

Her daughter Alice was switched to a soy-based formula and her eczema got better. She now tolerates almond milk.

The silver lining to having a baby during the pandemic is that everything is more relaxed ,and keeping a small social bubble can bring families closer together, said Sloan.

“The expectation to be out there doing things is gone. They feel they are bonding with their baby, and bonding as a nuclear family.”

Newborns are particularly prone to respiratory ailments, so strictly following health guidelines of a small social bubble, hand washing, and mask-wearing is especially important, Sloan said.

The virtual program ‘Our Health: The World of my Baby’ can be viewed through the Midland Cultural Centre website at or through Rogers TV.

For more information about Well Baby, visit the website: or call

STORY BEHIND THE STORY

With people more isolated at home due to the pandemic, it’s a challenging time if you have a newborn and a lot of questions. The Well Baby clinic now offers appointments over the phone, with access to four professions.

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Magna’s new boss, Seetarama (Swamy) Kotagiri, on coping with the pandemic — personally and professionally

Jul 5, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The new year will bring a shifting of gears for Seetarama (Swamy) Kotagiri, who will take over the helm of Ontario-based auto parts giant Magna from long-time CEO Don Walker, who announced his retirement Tuesday.

Kotagiri has been with the company for more than two decades, most recently as president. An engineer who thrives on efficiency, he took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and Magna’s way forward in a swiftly changing industry.

Q: This is a pretty interesting time for anyone to be making a big career change, let alone becoming a CEO. What’s that like for you?

SK: I’ve been with Magna for over 21 years and 25 years in the industry. So, I would like to see this as a smooth transition. I’ve been working with Don (Walker) for the last eight years very closely, so I don’t see this as a big change.

I’m sure there are things to learn, but I know the team, all my peers. We have been cohesively working together for some time so I don’t see that as a big challenge. It’s definitely exciting.

Q: You were made president of Magna not that long ago. Has that job helped prepare you for this new role?

SK: It definitely helped connect the dots. Over the last eight months we’ve been working together, I had a chance to get a little bit more exposure than what I already had.

This is a comprehensive process that’s been ongoing for over three to five years. So it was a hands-on coaching and learning experience, and the last step was the role of president.

Q: How has the pandemic affected your day to day, both personally but also professionally?

SK: Working from home, the day and night seem to all blend together. You have to make a concerted effort to put in the physical activity.

We’ve definitely learned some things that we didn’t think were possible before, but missed a few things, you know, just getting up and walking up to a desk and the human interaction.

I think we had more limitations in our mind of what could be done remotely.

Q: And how has the pandemic affected Magna?

SK: Just the whole industry … We’ve kind of had to come to an abrupt halt and do a complete restart by region from China and then Europe and the U.S., but we are really proud of how the team came together addressing it. Not only just doing what we had to do at Magna, but contributing to the industry startup as a whole.

The team really came together in a crisis. But it’s good to say we never had to stop an OEM (original equipment manufacturer).

Q: How do you plan on making the company stronger and moving forward after the difficulties caused by the pandemic?

SK: I think the reason why we were able to react quickly and in a fast way is how we are structured, very agile, very decentralized. That helps. We always had a plan, not for COVID, but we have gone through the 2008-09 crisis.

We’re looking at every possible way to see what did we learn, and can we improve efficiency going forward.

Q: The world of executives is pretty white. What’s it been like for you to be a visible minority at the top?

SK: I’ve never thought about it until you brought it up. I’ve been fortunate enough. One of the reasons why I came to Magna 21 years ago was the unique culture.

If you’re talented and you have the skills and if you want to take accountability and responsibility, you get to do what you want to do. That’s how fair enterprise is defined and, I guess, since you mention it now, I’m a good example of that.

Q: Are you going to continue on with Don Walker’s strategies for Magna? Or do you have any big changes in mind?

SK: Magna has been evolving for 60 years with the changing industry and it has done really well. As the industry evolves and changes, we have to be able to evolve and change along with it.

I definitely am not going to look for a change for the sake of change.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Rosa Saba is a Calgary-based business reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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Proposal for $3-million skate trail in Orillia melts under budget scrutiny

Jun 25, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Any hope of approving a refrigerated skate trail for Orillia’s waterfront melted away amid concerns over cost, as the city aims for a zero per cent tax increase in 2021.

“If you ask anybody in the city if you’d like to have a skate trail in the park, I think probably 99 per cent of them would say yes,” Coun. Mason Ainsworth said.

Asking if it is wise for the city to spend $3.1 million for the feature at Centennial Park “would be a different story,” he argued.

The skate trail was recommended in the city’s Downtown Tomorrow Plan and in a recently completed waterfront parkland design study. Proponents said it would boost use of the waterfront during winter months, while also providing a space for festivals and special events in summer.

The price tag included an addition to the Orillia Waterfront Centre to accommodate a change room and resting area, as well as a small service building to house an ice resurfacer and ice-making equipment.

While councillors during a recent budget committee meeting chose not to fund the project, supporters framed the proposal as an investment in the community.

“This will be an attraction for the future,” Coun. Ted Emond said.

The project would have required $3.15 million in borrowing and a capital tax levy of $30,000 in 2021.

Ray Merkley, director of parks, recreation and culture, said the city is increasingly challenged to maintain outdoor rinks due to fluctuating temperatures.

“It’s probably a six-week period where you can kind of guarantee that we’re going to have some use of them … from early or mid-January through to the end of February,” he said.

A skate trail is comparable in cost to a recently opened West Orillia park that will primarily serve “a few neighbourhoods and for a part of the year,” Mayor Steve Clarke argued.

All decisions at budget committee require ratification at council.

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Key advisers to Ford government on pandemic response support more transparency

Jun 25, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Two members of a key table of experts whose public health advice to senior government officials has been kept confidential are in favour of more transparency, they told the Star.

One of those advisers says the province’s colour-coded response framework should include stronger controls and clearer requirements for lockdown — but said he can’t divulge whether he recommended those measures originally because of the province’s confidentiality requirements.

On Monday, Toronto medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa said she and all members of the province’s public health measures table were , requiring them to keep their discussions and advice confidential. The table, a group of public health leaders and experts, provides advice on the province’s response to Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams, who in turn provides advice to Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet.

The news sparked renewed scrutiny after the Star reported last week that the province — members of which sit at the public health measures table — when it released its colour-coded framework for implementing new restrictions.

Dr. Charles Gardner, a member of the table and the medical officer of health for Simcoe-Muskoka, said he believes the group’s advice should be made public.

“The provision of information from that table would help people understand the reason for recommendations, and I think that would help with buy-in from the public as well. So I think in general it would be a good idea,” Gardner said in an interview.

“I believe when people have good information they understand things better, and they’re more likely to abide by restrictions,” he said, adding it is difficult for people to adhere to pandemic-related restrictions for such a long time.

Gardner said the higher levels of the provincial framework “may require” stronger controls than the plan currently recommends, noting local medical officers of health in red-zone regions have already had to implement additional restrictions “to protect their population.” And he said it would be “beneficial” for the framework to spell out what would trigger a full lockdown, thresholds the document currently lacks.

But Gardner said he could not divulge whether he had recommended these measures already.

“I don’t think I will speak further about what I recommended in the past — I should not, in fact … out of respect for the agreement that I signed and what transpired at meetings.”

Dr. Marlene Spruyt, another member of the table and the medical officer of health for Algoma, said the issue was “complex.” Sometimes the group’s advice includes options or considerations that are not meant to be definitive; advice also changes as they get more information, she added.

However, “I favour some additional transparency,” she said, though she does not believe all information discussed at the table should be public.

The Toronto Board of Health on Monday moved a motion to ask the provincial government to “immediately implement a fully transparent process of receiving public health advice,” including making public the advice provided to the chief medical officer of health and cabinet. The motion from board chair Coun. Joe Cressy was adopted unanimously.

Gardner said it was “typical” for the province to ask members of advisory committees to sign nondisclosure agreements, though he couldn’t comment on whether it was typical in other jurisdictions.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said “members have not signed NDAs. Rather, the terms of reference of the public health measures table do include a standard confidentiality clause that supports candid discussions that ultimately lead to guidance and advice being provided to the chief medical officer of health.”

Asked if the ministry will respond to the Toronto Board of Health’s call to increase transparency around the province’s advisory tables in any other way, the spokesperson said: “We respect the work of all our public health experts and the expertise and advice they provide.”

“As we have done throughout this pandemic, we will continue to be transparent with the people of Ontario and provide them with clear and comprehensive information.”

Last week, the Star reported that the from its own public health agency when it created its new colour-coded COVID-19 response framework, setting thresholds for regional restrictions two to four times higher than what experts at Public Health Ontario had recommended. Dr. Shelley Deeks, the agency’s chief health protection officer, said she didn’t see the province’s much-higher thresholds until they were released to the public. The province lowered the thresholds Friday in the wake of the Star’s reporting, and said the controls associated with each threshold would be discussed this week.

Deeks and at least one other member of Public Health Ontario sit at the public health measures table. A spokesperson for the agency referred questions to the table’s lead, Dr. David McKeown, who had not responded to the Star’s inquiries by Tuesday evening.

“Public Health Ontario does believe in the importance of transparency,” a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement. “However, we also recognize that confidentiality may be needed in some cases and contexts.”

Dr. Chris Mackie, another member of the table and the medical officer of health for Middlesex-London, said: “I believe that this is primarily a political matter and not a public health matter, and as such it’s the government’s decision, and not for me to judge.”

Other members of the table had not responded to the Star’s inquiries by Tuesday evening.

Kate Allen is a Toronto-based reporter covering science and technology for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: