Just a thought: Shouldn't Covid vaccination be mandatory for all healthcare workers?

The NPC Healthbiz Weekly is here to inform you through 2021. It's your weekly briefing on topics pertinent to healthcare marketers and executives published in cooperation with Peak Pharma Solutions. 

⇒ Issue #175 (In numerology, 175 signifies integrity and encourages the virtues of honesty, sincerity, and frankness.)

⇒ Worldwide Covid cases as of 03/26: 125,614,782*

⇒ Worldwide Covid fatalities as of 03/26: 2,757,339*

⇒ Confirmed Covid cases in Canada as of 03/26: 956,542*
⇒ Confirmed Covid fatalities in Canada as of 03/26: 22,771*

⇒ Number of vaccine doses administered to Canadians as of 03/26: 4,583,950*

March 26, 2021—Welcome to the last day of the workweek, CurveFlatteners. It's assistant editor Kylie Rebernik and my boss, Snowy the Cat, here at the command post today. As the Covid-19 vaccines roll out across Canada, a letter from the CEO of Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN), Kevin Smith, was just shared with CTV News. Mr. Smith penned an appeal to the 4,000 UHN workers who, despite having first access, have yet not been vaccinated or registered for vaccination. “This is all the more worrisome as we see a third wave beginning and the rapid rise of the variants, which makes Covid-19 much more infectious and possibly more severe and deadly,” he wrote.  

According to Dr. Susy Hota, medical director of infection control and prevention at UHN, the network is currently not encouraging a mandatory vaccination policy, and to do so would “undermine confidence and trust.” Dr. Hota said that a few potential concerns that UHN staff have with vaccines may relate to underlying health conditions or anticipated delays in receiving the second dose.  

With Covid-19 cases are on the rise, Ontario reported more than 2,300 cases yesterday. It is not only hospital workers that Canada is rushing to get vaccinated, but also the general public. However, according to Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, a virologist at the University of Manitoba, fully vaccinated Canadians still have the potential to become infected with Covid-19, and it is still important to take precautions after receiving your vaccination. Those that test positive for Covid-19 after receiving their vaccination would be considered to have a “breakthrough” case, and “those cases are always the exception and not the norm, and we have to keep our minds on how many infections we’ve seen and in this case, how many immunizations are being administered,” said he.

This all constitutes a disturbing statement about vaccine hesitancy. If healthcare workers are dragging their heels and steering clear of the clinics, it's reasonable to ask: What must the lay public be thinking?

The NPC Podcast is back this week to wrap up season number three. The National Pharmaceutical Congress organizers are proud to release our weekly podcast series, hosted by Peter Brenders. Peter's guest this week is Sheryl Groeneweg, Director General of the Manufacturing and Life Sciences Branch of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Listen here now, or download the episode and play it at your convenience. The NPC Podcast is presented in cooperation with Impres Pharma

COVID CHRONICLE 03/26/2021

• A recent study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) has found that the Covid-19 pandemic affects the mental health of "Gen Z" the most. According to the survey, eight out of 10 adults said a pandemic is a significant stress source. 
• A new report has found that Canada’s Indigenous communities need more mental health support concerning the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has caused more isolation and decreased mental health support in these communities. “The anxiety of the pandemic weights on all of us, and for First Nations, these stresses have been compounded for many people due to pre-existing mental health concerns, often a result of intergenerational trauma,” said Chief Marlene Poitras, Alberta regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations. 
• The Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine prevents 79 per cent of Covid-19 symptoms and 100 per cent of severe forms of the disease, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal (Mar. 22, 2020). The study used data from 32,449 participants and used patients from the U.S.A., Chile and Peru. 

TODAY CHRONICLE IS WORKING ON...

After the Indigenous Skin Spectrum Summit's recent success, the team at Chronicle is turning our attention to the seventh annual Skin Spectrum Summit. Make sure you save the date. The Summit will take place on October 14th and 16th, with Dr. Andrew F. Alexis serving as one of this year's educational co-chairs.

RIGHT NOW I'M LISTENING TO... 

In an effort to "read" more this year, I have taken up audiobooks when I am unable to actually read a book. I am currently borrowing V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic from my local library. 

UNTIL NEXT WEEK

The CurveFlattener will be back next Thursday with editorial assistant Jeremy Visser in the pilot's seat. On Monday, watch for the Skin Spectrum Weekly e-newsletter, and on Tuesday, the NPC Healthbiz Weekly will be distributed. Until we meet again, enjoy your weekend.