Although Albertans seem to be warming up to the idea of getting the COVID-19 vaccine — with the biggest increase of all provinces in the percentage of those willing to get it immediately — they also continue to lead the country with the most who would give it a flat no.
The shift comes amid weeks of Alberta racking up new record highs of COVID-19 cases almost daily and frequently beating out provinces with double or triple the populations to hold the dubious distinction of the highest total and new active cases per day.
It also comes as the Alberta government starts to roll out the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week — a shot that it says it won’t make mandatory, raising questions about how the province will try to persuade Albertans to take it and how far employers and service providers can go to require it of staff and customers.
As the vaccinations begin, Angus Reid Institute released poll results Monday suggesting there has been a “notable jump” in the number of people who would take it immediately — especially in Alberta.
The percentage of Albertans who say they’d roll up their sleeves to get the vaccine ASAP has soared from less than a third a month ago to nearly half now, according to the survey from Angus Reid Institute.
Alberta also has the highest percentage of people of all provinces who flat out refuse to take the vaccine. Premier Jason Kenney and the province’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, right are encouraging Albertans to get a vaccine, but say they won’t make it mandatory. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)
Only 32 per cent of Albertans said a month ago they would want to immediately get the vaccine but that leapt to 47 per cent last week, the polling company said.
That’s almost as high as the national average of 48 per cent of Canadians who say they’d get the vaccine immediately.
27% of Albertans say they won’t take the vaccine
It was the biggest jump in any province of those wanting to get the vaccine immediately, a 47-per-cent leap, compared with an average increase of 20 per cent nationwide.
Another 19 per cent of Albertans now say they’d get the COVID-19 vaccine eventually, Angus Reid said.
But Alberta also has the highest percentage of people of all provinces who flat out refuse to take the vaccine, the poll suggests: 27 per cent, followed by 21 per cent in Saskatchewan and 21 per cent in Manitoba.
The national average was 14 per cent.
The online survey of 1,603 Canadians was completed Dec. 8-11. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Angus Reid found the biggest reasons that people say they’d hesitate to take the vaccine immediately related to concerns over safety — short- and long-term side effects from a biological agent that was developed in less than a year. Vaccines can sometimes take up to 10 years to develop, test, trial and receive regulatory approval from public health agencies.
Cases and hospitalizations hit new records
The number of infections and deaths in Alberta have soared dramatically in the past month. The province broke a number of records on Monday, racking up:
The most new infections in a single day at 1,887.
The most total active cases (21,123).
The highest number of people being treated in hospital for COVID (716).
And the most in ICU beds (136).
There were another 15 deaths reported, bringing the total to 733, an increase of more than 100 in one week.
Vaccinations begin this week but won’t be mandatory
The first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Alberta will start being given to the highest priority groups this week, but the United Conservative government has said it won’t make the vaccine mandatory.
The first 3,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived Monday night in Alberta. Premier Jason Kenney says Alberta’s first COVID-19 vaccination would take place on a nurse in south Calgary on Tuesday afternoon, as the province begins immunizing ICU doctors and nurses, respiratory therapists and eligible continuing-care staff in Edmonton and in Calgary.
The cities were chosen because that’s where COVID-19 case numbers are highest and where the health system faces the greatest capacity challenges. As of Monday, Calgary had 7,268 active cases, up from 7,127 reported on Saturday, and Edmonton had 9,778, up from 9,548.
Alberta plans to administer first doses of the COVID vaccine to 29,000 health-care workers by the end of December and hopes to have the first doses available for long-term care residents by the end of the month.
But the government has warned it will take months for the vaccine to reach everyone who wants a shot — and it doesn’t plan to force people to get it.
Kenney has described a mandatory inoculation program as “ridiculous.”
“We’re not going to strap people down to force them to be injected with the vaccine,” Kenney said.
His government will recommend that people get it, he said.
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, has promised a campaign to help convince Albertans of the benefits.
She has repeatedly assured the public that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is effective, pointing out that there have been no serious adverse reactions reported among the tens of thousands of people who have already received the vaccine around the world.
However, how the government is going to encourage people to get vaccinated is not yet clear. Requests for information from government and health officials about an inoculation campaign did not receive a response.
Whether businesses can require vaccinations
Meanwhile, some are wondering how far businesses and service providers can go in requiring vaccinations of employees or customers.
Lorian Hardcastle of the University of Calgary says businesses ‘can certainly’ impose conditions on delivering services but are bound by human rights laws. (Zoom)
Lorian Hardcastle, an associate professor in the faculty of law and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, says businesses “can certainly” impose conditions on delivering services but are bound by human rights laws.
“For example, if you can’t receive the vaccine for medical reasons, WestJet couldn’t deny you the ability to fly on their planes without providing you with reasonable accommodation,” said Hardcastle.
She said that could include proof of a negative COVID-19 test result 24 hours before takeoff.
“There is that requirement, not only with employers, and not only in the public sector, to accommodate human rights, but also private service providers.”
In a statement to CBC News, WestJet and Air Canada indicated it was too early to comment on possible vaccine travel requirements.
Hardcastle pointed out that health-care workers in some parts of the country are already required to either vaccinate or wear a mask to prevent the spread of seasonal influenza within hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Employers could mandate a similar policy for the COVID-19 vaccine. They would have to provide special accommodation for employees who may request an exemption under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but Hardcastle says there would only be a few options.
WestJet and Air Canada say it’s too early to say how vaccination requirements may look for air travellers. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
“You have fairly limited ability to challenge your employers,” particularly in a health-care setting, Hardcastle said.
Hardcastle says employers might be reluctant to pursue such a policy since the vaccine is new.
But she points out the vaccine has already been tested on people and approved by Health Canada.
She says, because of that, the window to make an argument becomes quite narrow. She says a pregnant woman might be more successful in arguing against a mandatory vaccine because vaccines haven’t been tested on pregnant women.
The Alberta Human Rights Commission issued statements earlier this year regarding COVID-19 and individual rights around mandatory mask requirements and how, for example, someone with a disability or a health condition, such as asthma, could be exempted from wearing a mask.
Vaccine safety campaign
Health-care providers and researchers say one of the biggest challenges of the pandemic has been battling what’s referred to as the infodemic — the spread of false information and conspiracy theories around COVID-19.
Dr. Ilan Schwartz describes it as a “raging epidemic of misinformation.”
Dr. Ilan Schwartz says health-care professionals must battle an ‘infodemic’ of misinformation and conspiracy theories around COVID-19. (Zoom)
“We’ve come to a point where expertise and science is being given an equal platform to people who have opinions on Facebook,” said Dr. Schwartz, who is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor in the division of infectious disease at the University of Alberta.
This vaccine has been developed at lightning pace, but there have been no corners cut.– Dr. Ilan Schwartz, infectious disease specialist
He says physicians need to make it clear to their patients and also to the community that this is something that is safe and effective and recommended.
He says even though the vaccine may appear to have been fast tracked, it is safe.
“This vaccine has been developed at lightning pace, but there have been no corners cut,” he said.
“It’s important that we, you know, gain and maintain the trust of the public. And so we want to be able to give them all the information that they are going to require in order to make an informed and safe decision.”
Bryan Labby is an enterprise reporter with CBC Calgary. If you have a good story idea or tip, you can reach him at bryan.labby@cbc.ca or on Twitter at @CBCBryan.
Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting
Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.
In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.
“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.
There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.
Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.
Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.
In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.
Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.
New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.
The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.
Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.
Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.
“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”
McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.
But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.
The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.
He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.
“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.
“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.
McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”
McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.
He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.
“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.
