Vice-president of communications, public affairs and stakeholder relations at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, former health journalist at The Globe and Mail
I'm so glad to see this story out--one of my last pieces for
@globeandmail
. A small thread:
I had the chance to spend time in my hometown, Sault Ste. Marie, last month to look at why a major health provider is being forced to deroster 10,000 patients.
I wrote a piece on how bringing vaccine disputes to court can create the idea the science is up for debate. Now anti-vaccine posters are flooding me with attacks. So I'm re-posting the article & saying again: Vaccines work & this is not up for debate.
Breaking news: All Canadian provinces will now provide the abortion pill, Mifegymiso, for free. Manitoba & Saskatchewan were the last two provinces to make funding announcements. Manitoba promised earlier this week to start funding the pill & Sask just made a similar announcement
There's something unnerving about reporting on an unprecedented surge of children going to hospital for treatment of RSV while caring for a sick two-year-old who appears to be dealing with her first bout of RSV 😥 This is going to be a long and scary winter for many parents.
It's so alarming (but not surprising) to see, in real time, how the decision by some to cast media as the "enemy of the people" has trickled down into full on hatred for journalists who are there to report the story.
This is big news - the Canadian Medical Association Journal has decided to drop its paywall to "expand public access to evidence-based health information."
Important news: Health Canada has approved the 1st rapid
#COVID19
test that promises results in under an hour. The tests, made in Canada, are processed in a handheld device and are expected to help rural, remote & other communities quickly identify cases.
Out of office alert: I’ve taken on a tough, but pretty amazing, new assignment that will occupy most of my time for the coming months. I will still be around on Twitter, mainly to share the work of colleagues who are doing important work informing us of issues related to
#COVID19
I contacted more than three dozen hospitals this week & all except one have created vaccine mandates. But they say a province-wide policy is needed to reduce risk & prevent abuse, such as unvaccinated workers going to work at an institution w no mandate.
Seriously, the Toronto Sun published an article stating vaccines may cause SIDS, autism, seizures and death??!! This is irresponsible journalism and gives so much fuel to the anti-vax movement which will use this publication to legitimize false views.
Here's some perspective:
-1 person in Canada has tested positive for
#nCoV2019
, is in isolation & officials are tracing those potentially exposed.
-560 kids 16 & under have been hospitalized for the flu this season in Canada. Of those, 78 have landed in ICU. At least 1 died.
New evidence confirms COVID-19 vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. More than 38 million doses administered in Ontario and only 23,000 adverse event reports, of which most were minor.
It's possible to cover
#antimask
protests without promoting false beliefs/statements that aren't true. We made those mistakes for many years with coverage of the
#antivax
movement, so let's try to apply some of those lessons to those who erroneously suggest masks pose a risk.
Big news on the measles front: Amid an outbreak, New Brunswick’s government is moving to become the first province to ban non-medical vaccine exemptions, meaning parents who won’t vaccinate their kids must keep them home. My story today:
Jessica Biel responds to backlash about her antivax views by stating in an Instagram post she supports making “educated medical decisions.” Make no mistake—this is very common language in the anti-vaccine world.
I have never come across an antivaxxer who calls him/herself that.
COVID-19 vaccine uptake for kids under 5 is low—only 6.5% have received at least 1 dose in the 3ish months it’s been avail. While some (much?) of this may be due to hesitancy & misinfo, I wonder how many parents are giving up because it’s so timely/inconvenient to make an appt.
News that Ontario is moving to
#Stage3
reminds me of a conversation I had with an infectious diseases physician this week. Once you really start relaxing restrictions, you will see a rise in cases, even in places that have flattened the curve. 1/
At the same time, we need a good plan to safely reopen schools. A number of experts have said, very forcefully, that we need to prioritize school openings instead of bars/restaurants. Seems like a pretty logical ask. 4/4
Important PSA: The
@globeandmail
has lifted its paywall for
#COVID19
stories. We have a team of reporters working hard to deliver important facts and help you navigate the new reality of a cornavirus pandemic. Check it out!
A post is making the rounds asking media to stop using the term “anti-vaxxer.” At the
@globeandmail
, we don’t use that term. We instead say “anti-vaccine”. Because it’s an accurate way to describe those who reject the science behind vaccines & the proof they are safe & effective.
A quick update: I am officially back as of this week reporting for the
@globeandmail
after 14 months of maternity leave. It's both exciting and overwhelming to be back (in the home office) and I'm looking forward to telling some important health stories once again.
I’ve written a lot about the anti-vaccine movement. The “anti-mask” movement uses similar tactics (& many of the same ppl). Something I learned: you can cover such movements without repeating false claims or doing other promotional work for them.
The
@globeandmail
Public Editor
@SylviaStead
wrote about criticisms we have received from anti-vaxxers about our coverage - and why we don’t give a platform to people promoting false, unscientific views.
First byline since July 2020 and I'm so glad it's to report on children 5-11 likely soon being eligible for the COVID19 vaccine. This brings so much hope to millions of families.
My story today: New study shows HPV vaccination programs are leading to substantial reductions in HPV-related infections, lesions and warts--suggesting that soon, we will also start to see much lower rates of HPV-related cancers. via
@globeandmail
André is one of the finest health communicators - anywhere - and has done more to help the public understand
#COVID19
than anyone in the country. Grateful, as usual, for his no-nonsense takes and the fact he doesn’t hesitate to call out BS when he sees it.
#IStandWithPicard
It's quite shocking to see a Canadian physician leader
@dockaurG
saying we don't need a
#coronavirus
vaccine, we just need t-cell immunity, hydroxychloroquine and "The Truth."
#Covid19
This ruling is an impt win for public health and shows there is a clear public interest in speaking out to combat misinformation. Thanks to
@globeandmail
for supporting us & thanks to our lawyers, Andrew MacDonald & Carlos Martins & others at WeirFoulds.
I've been back less than a month & the online harassment/abuse on this platform is worse than anything I've experienced before. Other media colleagues have it much worse. There is a lot of discussion about what to do & I don't have the answers. But this has to stop.
If a passenger feels "offended" by breastfeeding, might I suggest they look away & contemplate why the sight of an infant eating causes them discomfort? While we're at it, airlines that prioritize easily offended passengers over hungry babies should also rethink their policies.
@HeatherYemm
Breastfeeding is permitted at KLM flights. However, to ensure that all our passengers of all backgrounds feel comfortable on board, we may request a mother to cover herself while breastfeeding, should other passengers be offended by this.
A reminder: Just because provinces have reopened/are reopening bars, restaurants, gyms, theatres doesn't mean life is back to "normal". Keep up physical distancing, wear masks when you can't & make smart decisions so we can keep the curve flat (& get kids back in school)
#COVID19
You know you're mentally exhausted by a global pandemic when an onslaught of abuse from hundreds of anti-vaxxer trolls seems like a welcome respite from the daily news.
#COVID19
.
@sciam
removes article on
@DrJenGunter
following a major backlash. The author of the piece was highly critical of Dr. Gunter, but did not attempt to interview her. The author also defended “alternative” treatments that don’t have evidence to support them, among other problems.
The post about me has been removed from
@sciam
for not meeting editorial standards. Thank you everyone for your support. Half truths, obfuscations, and lies help no person have agency over their body.
This is very concerning. PSA: women face higher risks of flu-related complications when pregnant. If they want a flu shot, don’t stand in their way. In fact, we should be encouraging more to get vaccinated.
Yesterday, two pregnant women in my clinic told me they were denied a flu shot. One by a pharmacist and the other by a doctor in a walk-in clinic. Fortunately they knew better and got it elsewhere.
#gettheflushot
#especiallyifyouarepregnant
.
As more areas start to remove health restrictions, it's worth remembering these rules were largely put in place to preserve health system capacity. Many hospitals in Canada have cancelled all but the most urgent procedures. Patients across the country waiting for appts & surgery.
It is shameful Bill Maher
@RealTimers
would give a platform to an anti-vaccination activist who promotes false theories. To clear up any confusion, because there seems to be some, VACCINES DO NOT CAUSE AUTISM. A disgraced former doctor made it up for personal gain. Short thread/
tonight bill maher welcomed an anti-vaxxer and a right-wing propagandist onto his program. he agreed with the former that vaccines may cause autism and the latter that brett kavanaugh was unfairly treated
Based on what the experts are saying, we need to hit pause in a much bigger way. Close the restaurants, bars, gyms, etc. So many people are out and about like it’s business as usual, but it’s not. Our health officials need to do more to make that clear.
#COVID19
NEW: Dr. Kevin Smith, President & CEO at University Health Network, says he believes Ontario should close non-essential businesses (excl. pharmacies/groceries): "I know there will be some who say that's an overreaction. I would dramatically prefer overreacting to underreacting."
I am pretty thrilled to have won this amazing award. We need to shine a light on the abortion access barriers that persist across Canada. More than two years after it came on the market, the abortion pill remains difficult to access for many Canadians.
The worrisome trend continues. Today, Ontario is reporting 460 new cases of
#COVID19
, up from 412 yesterday. Based on interviews with several doctors, the # of people going to hospital for
#COVID19
in the GTA is going up & they expect this will only worsen, as people get together
Breaking: Federal health officials say the Toronto man who has the coronavirus was symptomatic on the airplane last week when he was returning to Canada. Efforts are now underway to reach passengers who may have been in contact with him.
Incredible milestone: The 2nd of 3 polio viruses has been eradicated, thanks to vaccines. One strain is still circulating and more work needs to be done to eradicate, including ensuring high vaccination rates. via
@BBCWorld
#VaccinesSaveLives
Two-thirds of kids who need surgery at two major Ontario pediatric hospitals are being forced to wait beyond the recommended window because the system is too stretched, which could lead to lifelong problems. This problem started long before the pandemic & has only gotten worse.
This is quite sickening: Mother of child who died last year discovers her daughter's image is being used on social media by the anti-vaccine movement to claim the girl died as a result of vaccines.
The complete lack of adherence to physical distancing in Toronto parks (and backyards, etc.) is upsetting, but suggests a failure to convey risks of
#COVID19
to the public: Young people aren’t immune. Groups increase transmission, which will lead to more hospitalizations & deaths
PSA for anyone in Toronto: Toy Terminal (Queen St. W. at Manning) is a fantastic local shop with an amazing selection of high-quality toys. I was there yesterday and the owner told me how much he's ordered for the holiday season and how slow business has been. They aren't online.
On COVID fatigue... we’ve all seen the viral German PSA about being a hero by staying home? Can someone please create the Canadian version of that ad by playing to our pathological need to be polite? I mean, what is less polite than having a party that ends up killing someone?
Supervised drug use sites in Canada are only approved after public consultations are done. To suggest this isn’t happening & that these sites fuel addictive behaviour reflects a lack of understanding of the crisis facing our country.
She’s immune compromised, COVID positive & has an Rx for Paxlovid, but so far, has had no luck actually getting the medication, with the 5-day treatment window almost up. Just one example of access issues in Ont/Canada. Story by
@egpayne
via
@OttawaCitizen
We don’t even have a
#COVID19
vaccine & so many have already declared they will never get one when available. This isn’t a surprise, given how much anti-vaccine sentiment has grown. But seems the approach most public health institutions take is to just ignore & hope it goes away.
Scientists will always study vaccines, their effectiveness, their safety & continue to supply us with new live-saving ones. But the anti-vaccine community falsely suggests that vaccines themselves are somehow dangerous, under-studied & come with huge risks. And this isn't true.
Years ago, I was told that my story on vaccines had to include the voice of an anti-vaxxer for "balance." Thankfully, things have come a long way since then for health reporting. Lesson: don't give megaphones to people who purposefully spread damaging lies.
A lot of my email, in response to this column, has been 'you're trying to shut down opposing views.' Not so. But I am trying to inhibit the spread of 'alternative facts.'
My story today: Canada's top health officials say they will soon start actively looking for
#COVID19
cases in the community in order to detect possible local transmission, rather than focusing on passive surveillance.
So thrilled to see this news! André sets the standard for all health journalists but is never too busy to answer a question or dispense advice. A great colleague and superb human. Congratulations
@picardonhealth
!
"André Pierre Picard. For his dedication to advancing public health understanding and practices in Canada as a leading health journalist and bestselling author."
I'm honoured and humbled to be included in the list of new appointees to the
#OrderOfCanada
.
UPDATE on Timmins
#antivax
airport ads: The city's chief admin officer tells me city is asking for them to be removed. City rents space to a company at the airport that runs the ads. City learned of the antivax nature of them & wants them taken down (so does local health unit).
Ontario has just confirmed its 8th case of
#COVID19
in a patient who arrived in Toronto from Egypt on Feb. 20. Egyptian health authorities have denied having cases of the disease. Yesterday, France confirmed two patients who recently travelled to Egypt tested positive.
Doug Ford said today the health system is under pressure but the majority of patients get care within acceptable targets. The comments seem disconnected from the horror stories emerging from hospitals across the province. Story with
@dustin_cook3
This is why all Canadians need easy access to rapid antigen tests. They're not perfect, but they can be a huge help, especially in the difficult weeks ahead.
#FreeTheRATs
Today, two members of my staff, who used rapid antigen tests as a precaution, received a positive test result. They are self-isolating at home. I have not had direct contact with them. The rest of my staff in Ottawa have had negative antigen tests today.
PSA: The
@globeandmail
is lifting its paywall at midnight until after the election is over so anyone can get fully informed on the candidates and issues, even if they don’t subscribe. You will need to create a free Globe account to take advantage.
#elxn43
#PowerToTheInformed
I am getting a flood of comments about the piece I wrote yesterday, on a study that found opioids are no better at treating chronic pain than ibuprofen or naproxen. Despite what many have been led to believe, opioids aren't a great chronic pain solution.
This interview with
@WmHaseltine
is fantastic. We may never get a
#COVID19
vaccine, he says, but we already know how to stop this disease. We could stop transmission in a matter of weeks, but it requires more people to change their behaviour.
"You don't need a vaccine to stop the virus. We need behavior to stop the virus," says William Haseltine, a researcher who has done groundbreaking work on HIV/AIDS. "…The idea that science is going to reach into its bag and pull out magically the cure is fanciful.
“This myth that somehow schools are immune to being able to transmit this virus, it's got to end. Our teachers need better protection, they need more dignity, respect, and they need vaccines.”
47-year-old Ontario teacher who was 'totally healthy' intubated after contracting COVID-19.
"We have run out of adjectives for describing how sobering, how traumatic and how absolutely tragic this situation is”
Story by
@SeanDavidson_
#onpoli
#onted
If you’ve had, and recovered from,
#COVID19
, you can join a registry to potentially become a plasma donor to help others. It’s part of a major clinical trial that is looking to see whether convalescent plasma is an effective treatment for the disease.
Health Canada has announced ultrasounds are no longer mandatory before prescribing Mifegymiso. This is a major development that could help improve access in areas where ultrasound not readily available. Women in many cities have wait weeks for ultrasound.
An anti-vaccine group has launched a billboard campaign in Toronto urging people to “educate” themselves about the risks of vaccines. I wrote about this today and why public health officials say this is campaign is dangerous.
The first COVID-19 vaccine for kids 5-11 could be approved within a matter of weeks, meaning the pressure is on to come up with kid-friendly ways to run a mass vaccination campaign & answer parents' questions about vaccine safety. My story today:
BREAKING: Health Canada moves to restrict
#vaping
advertisements in Canada, citing high youth use of e-cigarettes. Proposed changes include a ban on billboards, point-of-sale promotions.
It’s time to restrict capacity at sports events, concerts & other large gatherings, experts say, not focus on telling ppl to limit contacts. If we do that & many other things (rapid tests, ventilation, boosters), we can avoid lockdowns. If not… My story:
It’s important to ask critical Qs about
@WHO
response to
#COVID19
. But also important to recognize
@WHO
held daily briefings for weeks early this year during which they warned the world about the looming threat, told us about a major
#PPE
shortage & asked countries to prepare.
As Ontario prepares to reopen indoor bars and restaurants, here's a story about how anyone who visited a bar in Montreal since July 1 is being told to get tested for
#COVID19
bc of outbreaks linked to several establishments. Via
@mtlgazette
I remember watching Body Break growing up, like so many Cdns. Please watch Hal Johnson's video, where he tells the story of the racist encounters that led to its creation (i.e. being denied a job at TSN because they "already had" a Black reporter). Thanks for sharing
@bodybreak
Health officials deserve better than political pot shots. New column by
@picardonhealth
. As a side note: the level of trolling and vitriol directed at
@CPHO_Canada
is quite disturbing.
In response to my investigation on widespread abortion access barriers, Canada’s health minister
@GinettePT
is telling all provinces they must get in line with federal law and remove barriers. By me and
@l_stone
It's difficult to see how lifting health measures will enable any of the thousands waiting to get closer to their surgery/procedure date. And what about rampant health care burnout and the rest of the collateral damage facing the health care system?
I received a note a few minutes ago from someone saying "With no disrespect" to the dead girl's family.... and went on to question the family's story and promote false anti-vaccine info. Make no mistake: this movement is a danger to public health.
BREAKING: Facebook is moving to stop the spread of anti-vaccine information online. The company will remove ads that promote
#antivax
info and will reduce rankings of pages/groups that spread misinformation.
A group of doctors pushing for stricter gun control is being targeted by a firearm lobby group. One trauma surgeon has had ~70 complaints lodged against her with the regulator after an online campaign by the gun lobby group.
The measles outbreak in Samoa is a tragedy & should be a warning. This story, of a family that lost 3 children to measles, is just one of many heartbreaking stories of ppl (mainly kids) who have died from the preventable illness. Vaccination saves lives
Plain packaging for tobacco is coming to Canada. Health Canada announced today new regulations that will strip brand colours, fonts & other design elements from packages while maintaining health warnings. Advocates say this makes Canada a world leader in tobacco packaging.
News of a global pandemic seems scary. But those of us who talk to infectious disease experts daily know the time to act is NOW to get ahead of
#COVID19
. So when
@picardonhealth
says it’s time to shut Canada down, our country’s leadership should listen.
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer vows to review new Canada Food Guide if elected, saying process to create it was biased & lacked consultation. He made the comments at Dairy Farmers of Canada AGM. Context: the new food guide has received high praise from health/nutrition experts
Bottom line: vaccine safety isn’t up for debate. They work, are safe and save millions of lives. To pretend otherwise and present the opposing view as legitimate can put people at risk. Coincidentally, we should find out Oct. 2 if the US loses its measles elimination status.
We should all remember that even though new cases are down, the virus isn’t gone. Relax things too much, or let complacency set in, and you can expect to see some serious problems. 3/
.
@jillpromoli
became a vaccine advocate after her son died from the flu. She has fielded 100s of attacks from members of an antivax group, including posts blaming her for her child’s death. And
@facebook
has done nothing to help, she says. My story today:
New Ontario law makes hospital admission the only way to get a long-term care spot, which will only worsen existing hospital bed shortages, advocates and experts say. My piece today with
@dustin_cook3
via
@globeandmail
A very important thread from
@justin_ling
explaining what’s really going on with the so-called trucker convoy and how the actual roots can be traced to handful of extremists. Thanks to all journalists putting themselves in harm’s way to tell this story.
James Bauder, the founder of Canada Unity and the architect of the "trucker" convoy to Ottawa, has said Trudeau “needs too[sic] be arrested and charged for treason, and for participating in committing crimes against humanity.”
Just looked up and saw the CN Tower lit up in blue to honour our health-care workers. Thank you to everyone who is showing up each day, working to treat the sick and to stop this thing. You are all heroes!
Closing/banning safer outdoor forms of recreation and socializing while allowing unsafe indoor workplaces to remain open w few supports for those employees ignores the evidence and is not the way out of this. Does anyone truly think this will stop/slow this ongoing catastrophe?
I agree with
@LaineyGossip
: it is time for pro-vaccine celebrities to counter the misinformation being peddled by the likes of Jessica Biel. How about it,
@iamjohnoliver
?
We need online public health campaigns to foster trust in vaccines, demonstrate how well they work & how safe they are. This pandemic caught us unprepared, but while we wait for a vaccine, maybe we can find a way to finally address the misinformation & build public trust.
Spot-on column from
@picardonhealth
about the horrific E. coli outbreak in Calgary.
"We didn’t really need another brutal reminder of the eviscerated state of public health in this country, and politicians’ indifference to it, but here we have it."
Important news: Nova Scotia will become the first province in the country to ban vaping, a decision expected to lead to similar policies across the country. My story today:
Between 30 and 70 percent of Canadians could be infected with
#COVID19
, says
@PattyHajdu
, but officials say they won’t prohibit mass gatherings until virus is spreading more widely (when experts say it will be too late). My story today: via
@globeandmail