The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. Through the Wellness Together Canada online portal, people of all ages across the country can access immediate, free and confidential mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
/CNW/ – It has been yet another productive week on the vaccine front in Canada, as close to 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Canada, and roll-out continues to ramp up across the country. It seems fitting that as the first signs of spring emerge around us, and the days get longer, there is more hope and optimism to fill the air. Our vaccination program is moving forward, to a point that the majority of us now have someone close to us who has been vaccinated. It is an incredible feeling to know that a loved one who is at higher risk for COVID-19 is now safer.
Through this process, we are also learning many new things about vaccines. However, with so much information coming at us, and much of it evolving at a rapid pace, this can also create gaps in our understanding, cause confusion, and even, in some cases, lead to distrust.
I know that many of you are curious to know more about vaccine safety and how adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) are monitored in Canada. That is why, in today’s Sunday Edition, I would like to explore this process by providing you with a bird’s eye view of the vaccine safety monitoring process from vaccine development through to post-marketing surveillance.
Ensuring Vaccine Safety at Every Step of the Vaccine Life Cycle
Vaccine safety assessment and monitoring is not something that takes place in a single, fixed step. Rather, it is an ongoing and continual process that is carried out throughout a vaccine’s life cycle, spanning all phases from development, to market authorization, administration, and post-marketing surveillance.
Here is brief description of how safety (and effectiveness) are evaluated at each step of the vaccine life cycle:
Pre-approval review and approval process
Vaccine testing starts in the lab with preclinical studies, which are carried out using cell cultures (in vitro studies) and animal models (in vivo studies). These studies provide preliminary information on vaccine effectiveness and safety.
If the vaccine is shown to be safe and effective in the lab and in animals, studies in people, known as clinical trials, are conducted next. These assess safety, including safe dose range, and efficacy, starting with a small number of healthy volunteers, and moving up to 1,000 or more participants by phase 3 trials. Importantly, every AEFI noted in these studies is investigated carefully and assessed to determine whether the vaccine is the cause.
In order for a manufacturer to receive regulatory approval for a new vaccine, they are required to submit all preclinical, clinical and manufacturing data to the Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, the group responsible for approving vaccines at Health Canada, for their own independent review. Scientific and medical reviewers from this group then conduct an in-depth assessment of all the data they receive. A vaccine is only authorized for use in Canada if it meets the regulatory requirements for safety, efficacy, and quality set by Health Canada.
Quality Control
The Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate will also review detailed chemistry and manufacturing information to ensure consistent quality of the vaccine product, which is another important facet related to safety. This may include an on-site evaluation of the manufacturing process, as well as a lot release program, which tests vaccine samples from different lots. Vaccine manufacturers must also adhere to current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), or recognized international quality standards, a process which is ensured by Health Canada’s Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch.
Post-approval monitoring
Once a vaccine is approved, it continues to be monitored and any safety signals are investigated. Canada has a strong vaccine safety monitoring system that remains in place for as long as the vaccine is used. Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) share the responsibility for ongoing monitoring in collaboration with provincial, territorial and local public health authorities, health care professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and the public. This ongoing process is important as it alerts public health authorities to changing trends or unusual AEFIs that were not previously reported. These are adverse events that occur too rarely to be detected even in a large clinical trial; they can only be identified once millions of people receive a vaccine. This is why when serious, unusual or unexpected AEFIs occur, they need to be taken very seriously and investigated very carefully, in order to determine whether they are indicative of a safety issue related to the vaccine that has emerged unexpectedly.
Manufacturers are also required to report AEFIs that they become aware of in Canada, or internationally, to the Canada Vigilance Program, Health Canada’s post-market surveillance program that collects and assesses reports of suspected adverse reactions to health products marketed in Canada. As part of a “risk management plan”, manufacturers may also be required to provide data on the safety of the vaccine for specific groups of people or conduct additional studies.
Canada also has several other post-market vaccine safety surveillance systems in place to detect any serious adverse events that may occur following immunization. These include the Canadian Adverse Events Following Immunization Surveillance System (CAEFISS), a federal, provincial and territorial collaborative surveillance system that is supported by PHAC. CAEFISS continuously monitors the safety of vaccines in Canada through various reporting processes. Health care professionals are asked to report all serious adverse reactions, such as those that may require hospitalization, result in persistent or significant disability or incapacity or be life-threatening, to CAEFISS. Anyone who experiences an adverse event is encouraged to inform their healthcare professional so they can report it.
Another component of the vaccine safety surveillance system involves proactively inquiring about adverse events from vaccine recipients or searching adverse events in clinical or administrative records. The Canadian Vaccine Safety Network (CANVAS) is a national network of sites across Canada that conducts vaccine safety surveillance during implementation of immunization campaigns. It can provide rapid information early on in vaccination campaigns, including for COVID-19. CANVAS is currently conducting a large, national, web-based vaccine safety study to monitor health events that may occur after COVID-19 vaccinations.
Approaches used in Canada align with good practices put forward by the World Health Organization in their COVID-19 vaccine Safety Surveillance Manual. If any serious side effects are identified, an investigation will take place and this information will be rapidly communicated to Canadians. The Canadian Immunization Guide provides specific information on management of selected AEFI and/or special populations. AEFI expert assessment is available via several avenues. For example, all serious AEFIs are reviewed by medical specialists at PHAC and Health Canada. Where needed, experts in specific fields of study are consulted. The Canadian Immunization Research Network’s Special Immunization Clinic (SIC) Network, established across Canada in 2013 by infectious disease specialists and allergists, provides expert advice to patients who have experienced adverse events following immunization and those who have medical conditions that may affect their immunizations. For more information on AEFI management, you can refer to the SIC Network’s Managing Adverse Events Following Immunization: Resource for Public Health.
Global Collaboration
It is important to note that post-approval vaccine monitoring is a process that is similarly carried out in many countries around the world, and Canada’s systems are linked with international networks, allowing us to share and access important safety information from other countries where the same vaccine is also in use. These networks include the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) which was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and enables quick and efficient responses to vaccine safety issues of global importance.
In the case of COVID-19 vaccine monitoring, we are seeing even greater international collaboration and communication on vaccine safety. Regulatory and public health authorities in Canada are actively collaborating and regularly exchanging information with international partners such as the WHO, in order to detect and discuss any emerging safety signals as well as how any potential risks may be mitigated. Regulators are also working closely together to share information.
Instilling confidence in our vaccination program
I hope that the information that I’ve provided today will help to shed some more light on the vaccine monitoring process we have in place in Canada. Ensuring that all vaccines authorised for use in Canada are safe and effective is a priority for health authorities at every level, who continue to monitor, investigate and report through Canada’s vaccine safety surveillance systems.
For additional information on vaccine safety, you can visit the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccines and treatment portal. You can also keep track of any adverse effects reported in Canada with the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Report which is updated on a weekly basis.
With fewer infections in those over 80 years of age, along with decreased outbreaks in long-term care settings, we are seeing the real-world benefits of COVID-19 vaccinations. As these vaccines work to protect more and more Canadians, let’s play our part by staying strong and helping each other – follow public health advice, keep up with individual practices, and prepare to take your place in the queue when the time comes for you to be vaccinated.
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.
