Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine less effective against infection for kids 5 to 11, study suggests

Covid Vaccine for Children, Toronto

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was protective against severe disease in children aged five to 11 during the recent Omicron variant surge, but quickly lost most of its ability to prevent infection in the age group, according to a study by New York State researchers.



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Josh Wakely died of flesh-eating disease. Doctors misdiagnosed his condition 3 times, his widow claims

britney stewart josh wakely

A widow and mother living in Lake Country, B.C., has filed a lawsuit claiming her husband's strep infection was misdiagnosed three times before he died of necrotizing fasciitis — also known as flesh-eating disease — nearly two years ago to the day.



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I can't work as a nurse in a province led by a government that is anti-science

Melissa Fuller

As society embraces the lack of any government restrictions, Melissa Fuller writes she is left feeling unvalued as a registered nurse, a mother to a child too young to be vaccinated, and a cancer survivor.



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Canada's abandoning of COVID-19 testing leaves us vulnerable to future variants, experts say

COVID-19 Testing Lines - Vancouver

Canada's ability to track new and existing variants is in jeopardy with testing access still heavily restricted — leaving us vulnerable to pandemic whiplash from new and existing variants.



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Mask mandate ends in Saskatchewan on Monday

COVID Que 20210309

For the second time in Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 history the province is dropping all its COVID-19 public health orders, including the requirement to wear a mask.



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Canadian researchers discover 1st possible case of deer spreading COVID-19 virus to a human

white-tailed deer quebec longueuil

In a world first, preliminary research suggests deer may be able to transmit the COVID-19 virus to humans, following analysis by a team of Canadian scientists monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in animals.



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Alberta lifting almost all remaining COVID-19 restrictions March 1

Jason Kenney

Most remaining public health restrictions will be lifted in Alberta on Tuesday as the province proceeds with the second phase of moving to an endemic approach to COVID-19.



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New U.S. guidelines allow many Americans to take a break from masks

People wear protective masks in Harlem, Manhattan, New York, N.Y.

Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday.



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50 calls made to poison control centres over exposure to COVID-19 rapid test kit ingredients

rapid test

At least 50 calls have been made to poison control centres in Canada over accidental exposure to certain ingredients in COVID-19 rapid test kits, which can be poisonous if swallowed or absorbed through the skin, warns Health Canada.



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New Brunswick has no mystery neurological illness, committee finds

Health Minister Dorothy Shephard, Dec. 10, 2021

Almost one year after the New Brunswick government raised alarm about “a distinct atypical neurological syndrome” causing symptoms ranging from muscle spasms to visual hallucinations, the province now says there is no mystery neurological illness.



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Medicago's homegrown, plant-based COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada

medicago greenhouse

Medicago's plant-based COVID-19 vaccine is now approved by Health Canada, which will soon give Canadians the option of getting a homegrown shot against SARS-CoV-2.



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Reinfections from Omicron subvariant BA.2 seem rare, study finds, making 'new wave' unlikely

Dancing returns B.C.

Getting infected more than once by subvariants in the Omicron family does seem possible, but appears rare, scientists in Denmark found in a recent real-world study — offering reassurance that countries won’t experience another sudden surge of infections.



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Omicron wave in Ontario long-term care homes blunted by vaccines, boosters, province says

Covid Ontario 20200603

Ontario long-term care homes, where the majority of residents have three or four COVID-19 vaccine doses, have been spared mass deaths during the Omicron wave despite infection levels similar to those seen in early 2020, according to new figures from the province.



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P.E.I. to discontinue Vax Pass on Monday

Dennis King

During a briefing Wednesday, Premier Dennis King said the pass, which is currently required to access certain services, will no longer be in use as of Monday at 12:01 a.m. 



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Too far, too big, too dangerous — families pitch alternative to large care homes ahead of budget

Exquisicare

A 10-bed care home just down the street — that's what families with Dementia Network Calgary say they want for their loved ones. They'll be watching Thursday's budget for signs of hope.



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Sask. has stopped trying to control COVID-19. What does that mean for seniors?

Senior couple holding hands together

Seniors must continue to be protected from COVID-19, but advocates say that protection must not come through isolation. They're calling on the province to rethink its long-term care system and want it to establish an official advocate for seniors.



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The COVID-19 vaccine booster isn't a priority for some British Columbians. Why?

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

According to an online poll conducted on behalf of the B.C. Pharmacy Association, 56 per cent of survey respondents — who have received two doses of the vaccine but not a booster — say they do not plan to get a booster dose right away. 



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England to end mandatory self-isolation for people with COVID-19

Virus Outbreak Britain

People with COVID-19 won't be legally required to self-isolate in England starting in the coming week, the British government has announced, as part of a plan for 'living with COVID' that is also likely to see testing for the coronavirus scaled back.



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More people are turning to melatonin to sleep. But experts say it's not a panacea for everyone

Melatonin containers

Melatonin use has increased since 1999, according to a new study out of the United States. Canadian sleep and drug safety experts say more people are turning to the supplement to fall asleep.



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Ontario reports 1,281 COVID-19 hospitalizations as province expands booster dose eligibility

Indigenous Vaccine Clinic, Toronto

An additional 33 deaths were also reported Friday, pushing Ontario's official death toll to 12,237.



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Travel agencies flooded with requests after Ottawa says it will drop pre-arrival PCR test for travellers

Pearson Airport Holiday Travel

Travel agents are being flooded with requests from Canadians eager to book vacations now that the federal government has said it will drop pre-arrival PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers as of Feb. 28



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Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Friday

Virus Outbreak Hong Kong

Hong Kong has identified more than 20,000 hotel rooms for quarantine accommodation, leader Carrie Lam said on Friday, as hospitals in the financial hub hit 95 capacity.



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Surgical backlog in Manitoba balloons to more than 161,000 cases: Doctors Manitoba

Operating table, surgical backlogs

Doctors say the pandemic backlog for diagnostic and surgical procedures keeps growing in Manitoba, which has set a timeline for repealing all pandemic restrictions.



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More restrictions to ease as Yukon heads 'down the other side' of Omicron peak

Premier Sandy Silver and Dr. Catherine Elliott

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver and acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Catherine Elliott gave an update on COVID-19 in the territory on Thursday morning.



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Some immunocompromised Canadians face anxious future with lifting of COVID-19 restrictions

family

Some Canadians are at risk of severe complications in case of a coronavirus infection because of their medical conditions. And some of those people say they now face a more anxious future as many provinces announce the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.



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As Ontario lifts COVID-19 restrictions, northern First Nations are still grappling with Omicron surge

Neskantaga

Ontario is lifting more COVID-19 restrictions as over 30 communities in the province's north are still managing an Omicron surge, a discrepancy that's led to calls for better representation in reopening plans.



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Ontario's Omicron peak 'behind us' top doctor says as public health restrictions ease

Gym capacity, Toronto

Dr. Kieran Moore told CBC Radio's Metro Morning that key metrics including wastewater data and the rate of hospitalizations are showing a "profound decline."



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Q&A: What can Canada take away from Denmark's 'done with COVID' approach?

Denmark virus Outbreak

Denmark health officials say they no longer consider COVID-19 "a socially critical disease" and have lifted most of their pandemic restrictions. But one epidemiologist says Canada should not take a similar approach.



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Fauci says time to start 'inching' back toward normality in U.S.

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Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says it is time for the United States to start inching back towards normality, despite remaining risks from COVID-19.



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Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Thursday

COVID Ont 20211218

People in Ontario, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island will face fewer COVID-19 restrictions as of Thursday.



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Ontario is facing a backlog of more than 1 million surgeries and a group of doctors has an idea to fix it

Humber River Hospital

Ontario is facing a backlog of more than one million surgeries, in large part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now a doctor's group is recommending the province fund a new model of outpatient care centres to help tackle the problem. 



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Thawing permafrost can expose northerners to cancer-causing gas, study says

radon detection kit

Radon is an odourless, tasteless gas that comes from the ground. A new study out of the U.K. says people in the Arctic might be exposed to plumes of the cancer-causing gas as a protective layer of permafrost continues to thaw.



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Ontario science table shows COVID-19 levels dropping in wastewater, except in the north

https://thumbnails.cbc.ca/maven_legacy/thumbnails/630/643/covid-wastewater-testing-hounsell-050122.jpg?t=1641441006915

Ontario’s Science Advisory Table shows COVID-19 levels in wastewater data are steadily declining in all regions except in northern areas of the province.



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Ontario reports 1,403 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 47 new deaths as province set to ease rules Thursday

Humber River Hospital COVID-19 Ontario

Ontario reported 1,403 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and 47 more deaths on Wednesday as the province gears up to lift capacity limits on businesses that were imposed amid a surge in Omicron cases.



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Is it the right time to lift Quebec's vaccine passport system?

COVID Que 20220214

While some business owners and customers may be breathing a sigh of relief after the Quebec government announced its plans to abandon the vaccine passport system, reactions are mixed among experts and politicians alike.



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B.C. lifts most COVID-19 restrictions as long as masks and vaccine cards are used

COVID DAILY LIFE

B.C. will lift most COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday at 11:59 p.m., B.C. health officials announced Tuesday.



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Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday

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The number of new coronavirus cases globally fell by 19 per cent in the last week, while the number of deaths remained stable, according to the World Health Organization.



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U.S. patient becomes 1st woman cured of HIV after stem cell transplant

HEALTH-AIDS/CURE

A U.S. patient with leukemia has become the first woman and the third person to date to be cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant from a donor who was naturally resistant to the virus that causes AIDS, researchers reported on Tuesday.



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What we know — and what we still need to learn — about long COVID

COVID-19 LONG HAULERS

A B.C. doctor says as more people become infected, more research is needed to understand the impacts of long COVID.



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N.B. premier abandons pledge to make life 'uncomfortable' for the unvaccinated

Premier Blaine Higgs, Jan. 20, 2022

Premier Blaine Higgs has abandoned a pledge to make life "increasingly uncomfortable" for the unvaccinated.



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B.C. to announce timeline for removing some pandemic restrictions — but not vaccine cards

COVID BC Vaccine Card 20210915

On Tuesday, British Columbia is expected to join most other provinces in announcing a timeline for removing some COVID-19 restrictions — but lifting the vaccine card isn't expected to be part of the discussion. 



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Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday

COVID BC 20220201

British Columbia's top doctor is expected to announce a plan Tuesday for gradually easing public health restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.



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Communities with low incomes, immigrants, essential workers hardest hit by COVID-19: study

Radhika Gandhi

A Canadian research team found that COVID-19 cases were “disproportionately concentrated” in communities with lower incomes and a higher share of visible minorities, recent immigrants, high-density housing and essential workers.



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Ontario will end vaccine passport on March 1, but keep mask requirements

Covid re-opening presser, Ontario

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The pandemic exposed flaws in Quebec's health system. Front-line workers say it's time to fix them

COVID Que 20220206

As the province lifts further restrictions, health-care workers say unless the system undergoes a major overhaul, the long-standing problems highlighted by the pandemic will have disastrous consequences in the years to come.



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Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Monday

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks at the Saskatchewan Legislature on Feb. 8, 2022.

Alberta's mandatory mask requirement for children under 12 in all settings and for all students in schools ends today. Saskatchewan's vaccine passport is over today, too.



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How disagreements about COVID-19 have driven families, friends apart

Relationships

COVID-19 has created division in the province of Saskatchewan. The pandemic has taken over lives and relationships.



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COVID-19 vaccine mandates have worked in Canada — but they're harder than ever to justify

FREEDOM CONVOY QP DEMO TO

COVID-19 vaccine mandates have worked extraordinarily well at getting more Canadians vaccinated, but they are increasingly hard to justify — not because of protests or political pressure but because they’re a victim of their own success.



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Effectiveness of COVID-19 boosters wanes over time but remains strong, U.S. study suggests

Virus Outbreak Mississippi

An early look at the performance of COVID-19 booster shots during the recent Omicron wave in the U.S. showed a decline in effectiveness against severe cases, though the shots still offered strong protection. Experts caution more research is needed.



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Ontario declares state of emergency in response to convoy protests

Covid re-opening presser, Ontario

Ontario is declaring a state of emergency in response to convoy protests against public health measures meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, which have caused major disruptions in multiple areas of the province in recent weeks.



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There's a better way to take rapid COVID-19 tests. Here's how experts say you should 'up your game'

COVID Cda Rapid Tests 20220104

The Ontario Science Advisory Table says rapid antigen tests are less likely to detect the Omicron variant. So they want you to swab much more than your nostrils to make the tests more accurate.



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What we know about COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5

COVID Kids Vaccine 20211123

Pediatricians are hoping a vaccine for young children could be available before summer if approved by Health Canada. However, no applications have yet been received by the regulator.



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These 5 myths about B.C.'s toxic drug crisis are hurting efforts to stop the deaths, say experts

5 YEAR OD CRISIS

In the 5 years and 10 months since B.C. declared a public health emergency because of drug-related deaths, the problem has only gotten worse. Advocates argue part of the problem is that many people with the power to make a difference are relying on outdated or incorrect ideas.



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