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CBC

Why AstraZeneca vaccine approval in Canada may open more doors

(Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse/The Associated Press – image credit) Health Canada’s approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and the Serum Institute of India’s version to prevent COVID-19 in adults follows similar green lights from regulators in the United Kingdom, Europe Union, Mexico and India. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, called ChAdOx1, was approved for use in Canada on Friday following clinical trials in the United Kingdom and Brazil that showed a 62.1 per cent efficacy in reducing symptomatic cases of COVID-19 cases among those given the vaccine. Experts have said any vaccine with an efficacy rate of over 50 per cent could help stop outbreaks. Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser, said the key number across all of the clinical trials for those who received AstraZeneca’s product was zero — no deaths, no hospitalizations for serious COVID-19 and no deaths because of an adverse effect of the vaccine. “I think Canada is hungry for vaccines,” Sharma said in a briefing. “We’re putting more on the buffet table to be used.” Specifically, 64 of 5,258 in the vaccination group got COVID-19 with symptoms compared with people in the control group given injections (154 of 5,210 got COVID-19 with symptoms). Dr. Susy Hota, medical director of infection prevention and control at Toronto’s University Health Network, called it a positive move to have AstraZeneca’s vaccines added to Canada’s options. “Even though the final efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine appears lower than what we have with the mRNA vaccines, it’s still reasonably good,” Hota said. “What we need to be focusing on is trying to get as many people as possible vaccinated so we can prevent the harms from this.” Canada has an agreement with AstraZeneca to buy 20 million doses as well as between 1.9 million and 3.2 million doses through the global vaccine-sharing initiative known as COVAX. WATCH | AstraZeneca vaccine safety: Canada will also receive 2 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the government announced Friday. Here’s a look at some common questions about the vaccine, how it works, in whom and how it could be rolled out. What’s different about this shot? The Oxford-AstraZeneca is cheaper and easier to handle than the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which need to be stored at ultracold temperatures to protect the fragile genetic material. AstraZeneca says its vaccine can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (2 to 8 C) for at least six months. (Moderna’s product can be stored at refrigeration temperatures for 30 days after thawing.) The ease of handling could make it easier to administer AstraZeneca’s vaccine in rural and remote areas of Canada and the world. “There are definitely some advantages to having multiple vaccine candidates available to get to as many Canadians as possible,” Hota said. Sharma said while the product monograph notes that evidence for people over age 65 is limited, real-world data from countries already using AstraZeneca’s vaccine suggest it is safe and effective among older age groups. “We have real-world evidence from Scotland and the U.K. for people that have been dosed that would have been over 80 and that has shown significant drop in hospitalizations to the tune of 84 per cent,” Sharma said. Data from clinical trials is more limited compared with in real-world settings that reflect people from different age groups, medical conditions and other factors. How does it work? Vaccines work by training our immune system to recognize an invader. The first two vaccines to protect against COVID-19 that were approved for use in Canada deliver RNA that encodes the spike protein on the surface of the pandemic coronavirus. Health-care workers Diego Feitosa Ferreira, right, and Clemilton Lopes de Oliveira travel on a boat in the state of Amazonas in Brazil, on Feb. 12, to vaccinate residents with the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The product can be stored at refrigeration temperatures, which facilitates its use in remote areas. In contrast, the AstraZeneca vaccine packs the genetic information for the spike protein in the shell of a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. Vaccine makers altered the adenovirus so it can’t grow in humans. Viral vector vaccines mimic viral infection more closely than some other kinds of vaccines. One disadvantage of viral vectors is that if a person has immunity toward a particular vector, the vaccine won’t work as well. But people are unlikely to have been exposed to a chimpanzee adenovirus. How and where could it be used? Virologist Eric Arts at Western University in London, Ont., said vaccines from Oxford-AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, which is also under review by Health Canada, and Russian Sputnik-V vaccines all have some similarities. “I do like the fact that AstraZeneca has decided to continue trials, to work with the Russians on the Sputnik-V vaccine combination,” said Arts, who holds the Canada Research Chair in HIV pathogenesis and viral control. Boxes with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine are pictured at St. Mary’s Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Health Canada says the vaccine is given by two separate injections of 0.5 millilitres each into the muscle of the arm. “The reason why I’m encouraged by it is I think there might be greater opportunity to administer those vaccines in low- to middle-income countries. We need that. I think our high-income countries have somewhat ignored the situation that is more significant globally.” Researchers reported on Feb. 2 in the journal Lancet that in a Phase 3 clinical trial involving about 20,000 people in Russia, the two-dose Sputnik-V vaccine was about 91 per cent effective and appears to prevent inoculated individuals from becoming severely ill with COVID-19. There were 16 COVID-19 cases in the vaccine group (0.1 per cent or 16/14,964) and 62 cases (1.3 per cent or [62/4,902 ) in the control group. No serious adverse events were associated with vaccination. Most adverse events were mild, such as flu-like symptoms, pain at injection site and weakness or low energy. An analysis of results from 2,000 adults older than 60 years suggested the vaccine was similarly effective and well tolerated in this age group. Arts and other scientists acknowledged the speed and lack of transparency of the Russian vaccination program. But British scientists Ian Jones and Polly Roy wrote in an accompanying commentary that the results are clear and add another vaccine option to reduce the incidence of COVID-19.
Initiative de journalisme local

Quoi faire pendant la relâche?

En l’absence d’activités organisées par les organismes et municipalités, que pourront faire les familles de la Haute-Côte-Nord pendant la semaine de relâche du 1erau 5 mars? Gino Jean, enseignant en éducation physique à l’école St-Luc ainsi qu’au Cégep de Forestville et impliqué dans le sport jeunesse, a quelques suggestions. 1. Soyez créatifs! La pandémie apporte son lot de conséquences, mais Gino Jean rappelle qu’on peut y trouver du positif. « La crise que l’on vit présentement nous permet de passer plus de temps en famille. Il faut profiter de la relâche pour créer des jeux avec nos enfants et laisser aller notre imagination. Construire un fort, aménager une glissade dans la cour ou partir à la recherche des plus belles buttes…» 2. Du plein air, 1 heure par jour, sans cellulaire. L’enseignant est un fervent du plein air hivernal. Il conseille à ses élèves et à leurs parents de prendre l’air au moins une heure par jour. « Même si tu ne fais pas d’activité précise, tu peux t’asseoir et lire un livre, si tu veux, mais au moins tu respireras l’air frais. Et surtout, laissez le cellulaire dans la maison, sinon on est tenté de le regarder », soutient-il. 3. Apprendre les rudiments de la survie en forêt. « Une belle activité à laquelle toute la famille trouvera son compte est sans aucun doute la marche en forêt pour apprendre quelques notions de survie. Faire une cabane en sapin, amasser du bois pour faire un feu, tant les adolescents que les plus jeunes seront amusés. La famille passera du bon temps à l’extérieur », suggère M. Jean qui a déjà fait cette activité avec son fil Clovis. 4. Randonnée en ski de fond. Le ski de fond est très accessible en Haute-Côte-Nord. « Plus particulièrement à Forestville, il est possible d’effectuer une randonnée de 1,2 kilomètre du stationnement du club de ski de fond au relais. On peut apporter une petite collation, se faire un feu pour se réchauffer et ce sera un bel avant-midi ou après-midi en famille », affirme l’amateur de ce sport d’hiver, précisant qu’il peut prêter des paires de skis aux enfants de l’école St-Luc. 5. Essayer le fatbike. Le vélo à pneus surdimensionnés (fatbike) est de plus en plus populaire partout au Québec. Gino Jean conseille les familles de l’essayer, surtout qu’une nouvelle piste est ouverte au golf Le Méandre à Forestville. « La Municipalité de Portneuf-sur-Mer en a deux à prêter pour les intéressés », dévoile-t-il. 6. Profiter des sentiers de raquettes. « Partout en Haute-Côte-Nord la forêt est à proximité, rappelle l’enseignant. Pourquoi ne pas en profiter pour sortir nos raquettes et partir en randonnée familiale? À Forestville, un magnifique sentier se rend au lac Forest et offre une merveilleuse vue. Le club de ski de fond offre également des pistes pour faire de la raquette. » 7. Marcher dans les rues. « Une simple marche dans les rues de notre municipalité peut être une belle activité parents-enfants. Certains trottoirs sont même déblayés pour les marcheurs. En plus, la température sera de notre côté pendant cette semaine de repos, selon les prévisions météos », de mentionner le papa de trois enfants. 8. L’important, c’est de lâcher les écrans et de se relâcher. Finalement, comme l’indique M. Jean, l’important est de reposer son cerveau et de relâcher de tout. « Et surtout de lâcher les écrans, que ce soit les cellulaires, les tablettes, les jeux vidéos, la télévision. Oui, un film un soir ça peut être bien, mais ne pas passer nos journées collé là-dessus », conclut-il. Johannie Gaudreault, Initiative de journalisme local, Journal Haute-Côte-Nord
Local Journalism Initiative

Municipalities raise concerns over decision to close Ontario Fire College

PERTH COUNTY – Concerns were raised during the Perth County council meeting on Feb. 18 over the provincial government’s decision to close the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst. Coun. Daryl Herlick asked for a discussion of a letter requesting support for the college from municipal governments across the province. “It is our understanding that two of the three associations who were quoted in the Government’s press release as being in support of the closure were not consulted before the announcement other than to be asked if they were in support of the ‘modernization and regionalization’ of training for the fire service in Ontario,” reads the letter. “The Government did not inform these associations that this meant closing down the Gravenhurst campus of the Fire College.” It also reads that the government’s claim that modernization and regionalization will be more cost-effective and accessible to municipalities is not true. “The Province’s regionalization model currently has Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s) with a mixed bag of 20 ‘Regional Training Centres’ (RTC’s) located in various areas around the Province,” the letter states. “The municipalities’ cost to send one firefighter to an RTC range between $300 – $1,200 for the course alone. This cost does not include accommodations or meals.” The Ontario Fire College has modern facilities with modern equipment where experts provide training in all fire service disciplines. “Students intermingle with each other on campus, and most have made lifelong friends while staying at the College,” the letter states. “This social interaction will not exist at any RTC.” The cost is $65 for a municipality to send one firefighter to the college which includes accommodations and three meals a day. This cost has not changed in well over a decade. “The fact of the matter is that each municipality’s cost to train their fire service personnel to a recognized standard, which could soon become mandatory if the Government revives O. Reg 379/18, could dramatically increase by closing the Gravenhurst campus,” states the letter. “The Fire Protection and Prevention Act 1997, as amended, requires the Fire Marshal to ‘develop training programs and evaluation systems for persons involved in the provision of fire protection services.’ It also stipulates the fire marshal must ‘provide programs to improve practices relating to fire protection services’ and ‘maintain and operate a central fire college.’” Herlick said he is dumbfounded by the province’s reasoning for closing the college. “I think we need to reach out to (Perth-Wellington MPP) Randy Pettapiece and ask for some more information on the reason behind closing this,” he said. “I see this going back 20 years ago to the Mike Harris days when they iced off the conservation authorities and look where that went – everybody calling their own shots.” Herlick said he has always thought this was ‘a well-ran college,’ so he encouraged council to ask more questions of the province on this closure. Coun. Todd Kasenberg said that North Perth council had the chance to hear from North Perth Fire Chief Ed Smith on Feb. 1, after a resolution was passed supporting a letter from the Township of Augusta petitioning the province to reverse its decision. At the Feb. 1 meeting of North Perth council, Coun. Allan Rothwell asked for a discussion of Augusta’s resolution. “In regards to the resolution that Augusta did send out I would recommend to council to support it based upon the information we’ve received in regards to it,” said Smith. “There was no consultation with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs in regards to closing the college. It was just announced to us through a WebEx and basically, that is where everybody learned about it.” Smith said the North Perth Fire Department researched to compare what it would cost to send somebody to the Ontario Fire College and what it would cost us to send somebody to an RTC. “Currently when we send somebody to the fire college for a course it roughly costs us around $1,000,” he said. “If we had to start sending people to the training centres we did some calculations and we’re looking at roughly $2,200 to send somebody. So we see a substantial increase in that.” On top of the $65 registration fee which included a week of accommodation and meals, there is a daily rate for training and the mileage to get to the college. “It’s truly a tough and difficult thing for the fire service,” said Smith. “I know there’s a lot of different theories with other fire chiefs. In general, I think the biggest percentage of fire chiefs, especially part-time and volunteer, is that the closing of the college is going to be a very, very difficult thing for us and also a costly venture to go ahead with training.” Based on Smith’s comments, Rothwell moved that North Perth support the resolution of the Township of Augusta regarding the request for the province to reconsider its decision to close the Ontario Fire College. At the Feb. 18 county council meeting, Warden James Aitcheson said Perth South had a similar discussion at a recent council meeting. “We didn’t actually officially pass a motion to support it but we were definitely looking for answers,” he said. Aitcheson said Perth South was waiting to hear the discussion at an upcoming fire board meeting and then a decision will be made. Herlick resigned to wait for the fire board meeting. “Maybe at that point, we need to take a stiffer stance or maybe they’re up to something we don’t know,” he said. Coun. Doug Kellum said he completely agreed with Kasenberg and Herlick. “We did have that motion come through and… we do need to support this as a county and as a past firefighter so let’s move forward on this and not put it behind,” he said. Kellum made a motion to support the letter and Herlick seconded it. Colin Burrowes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Listowel Banner
CBC

‘People are dying;’ advocate, police rank and file welcome news officers will carry naloxone

(Dan Taekema/CBC – image credit) Mayor Drew Dilkens says Windsor’s chief of police has made the decision to provide naloxone to all officers. In an interview with CBC Radio’s Windsor Morning Friday, Dilkens said the decision was connected to the opening of the aquatic centre as a shelter for COVID-19-positive people who are experiencing homelessness. The emergency shelter has 24-hour policing which is being carried out by officers from various units, not just the divisions that were previously equipped with the overdose-reversing drug. “So I know she’s going to make the decision to arm all of the officers at Windsor Police Service with Naloxone, and we’ve always said this will be a data-driven decision and that these changes will happen as the facts change, and guess what — the facts are changing.” Dilkens, who is chair of the Windsor’s police services board, said chief Pam Mizuno is doing “the right thing.” CBC News reached out to Windsor police for an interview, but Mizuno was did not provide comment. There is no information available from police about the cost or timing of the naloxone rollout. In October, CBC News looked at Windsor police reports that showed officers were first to respond to an opioid overdose in at least 14 cases over a 13 month span. This meant that officers had to sometimes wait for paramedics before naloxone could be administered. On one occasion, officers waited 39 minutes for paramedics to arrive at a scene and administer naloxone to a woman, who then became conscious and responsive. ‘Unfortunate that it took this long’ In recent months, calls for emergency responders to carry naloxone have mounted amid the opioid overdose crisis. Among those advocating for officers to carry the drug included president of the Windsor Police Association Shawn McCurdy. He told CBC News Friday that he’s pleased with the decision. “It’s unfortunate that it took this long, but the right decision has been made now,” he said. “It’s a peace of mind now that we have this tool with us that hopefully we don’t ever have to use but if we do, it’s there.” The Windsor Police Service is one of the last major units in the province to get approval to carry naloxone, he said. Currently, Windsor police have officers with three units — detention, city centre patrol and problem-oriented policing — that had access to the drug. City council unanimously voted earlier this year to direct the fire service to start carrying naloxone nasal spray kits. Lisa Valente, a member of Families Stop the Harm, says police having naloxone is the difference between life and death for many who overdose on opioids. There were 29 emergency room visits related to opioid overdoses in Windsor-Essex last month alone, according to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. In 2019, 47 opioid overdose deaths in Windsor-Essex were reported by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario. A member of a local harm reduction group, Family Stop the Harm, Lisa Valente said she was “happy” to hear the news, but notes that this was a long time coming. “I think it should have been approved a long time ago. We lost a lot of lives this year, we lost a lot of lives just in the past few weeks,” she said. “The police having naloxone kits is the difference between living and dying … When you call 911 police, ambulance, fire chances are police may be the first person there and if police have the kit and they have the opportunity to save somebody’s life, that’s huge… a lot of people are dying.”
The Canadian Press

Laying out data, Netflix touts its record on inclusivity

NEW YORK — Netflix on Friday released a study it commissioned from top academic researchers that shows the streaming giant is outpacing much of the film industry in the inclusivity of its original films and television series. For years, academic studies have sought to capture inequalities in Hollywood and to hold studios accountable for making film and television that doesn’t reflect American demographics. Those studies have generally relied on box-office or ratings data, often leaving out streaming platforms. Netflix is trying a different route with both more transparency and more company control. The streamer commissioned the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative to analyze its 2018 and 2019 original, live-action films and series, and presented the results to members of the press Thursday in a video presentation. The results were, as Annenberg Inclusion Initiative founder and director Stacy L. Smith noted, far more positive than most Annenberg reports, which have typically found only slow, sporadic improvement in the most popular films. Netflix achieved roughly gender parity among lead characters in both film (48.4% of leads were female) and TV (54.5%) in 2018 and 2019. The study covers a total of 126 movies and 180 series. It does not include documentary or unscripted series or films, animation, international productions or content hosted on Netflix that it did not itself produce. Netflix films were more likely to have women directing (23.1%), writing (25.2%) or producing (29%) than the top-grossing movies of 2018 and 2019. The correlation isn’t a perfect one since Netflix releases both large and small budget films whereas the majority of top movies at the box office come from higher-priced productions. In Netflix films and series, 31.9% of leads were from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. That trails demographics (about 40% of the U.S. population according to census data) but Netflix showed marked improvement between 2018 (26.4%) and 2019 (37.3%). “The point of this benchmark is to constantly be held accountable,” said Scott Stuber, vice-president of global film. He said 2020 films like “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Da 5 Bloods” and “Old Guard” show Netflix is still progressing. “But the whole auspice here is not to pat ourselves on the back. It’s to say publicly here’s what we’re trying to accomplish and we’re going to be held accountable,” he said. The study will continue for the next six years. It’s a level of transparency that traditional studios, and other streaming companies, haven’t before embraced. In a blog post Friday, Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos said he hoped the move would spur wider change. “By better understanding how we are doing, we hope to stimulate change not just at Netflix but across our industry more broadly,” wrote Sarandos. Smith didn’t respond to questions about Netflix’s conditions for the study, or how much the company paid for it. Last month, Netflix released its first inclusion report, showing that 47% of its global workforce is female and 46% of its U.S. employees are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups. Not all of the findings were positive. Speaking characters in Netflix movies were disproportionately male (about 64%). Only 16.9% of film directors were from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, and the figures on film producers and screenwriters weren’t any better. Among series creators, only 12.2% were from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. Latino representational lagged especially, accounting for just 4% of film leads and 1.7% of series leads. LGBTQ leads were featured in only 2.3% of Netflix films and series, though 12% of the U.S. population identifies as LGBTQ. Stuber and Bela Bajaria, vice-president of global series, said the results show Netflix where it needs work. But citing that Netflix improved from 2018 to 2019 in nearly all metrics, Smith praised the company for making inclusivity central in its operations. “If we are making a show that another studio is producing and we’re doing it from the beginning, from episode one, we have all of the discussions,” said Bajaria. “How many people of colour are directing? How many women are directing? Who’s in the writers’ room? We have those conversations all the time.” Bajaria said Netflix has benefited from not having just a few token non-white series but a pipeline full of diversity. “More at-bats” for minority creators, she said. She cited shows like the Shonda Rhimes-produced “Bridgerton” and the Spanish language “La Casa de Papel” (“Money Heist”) as examples of how Netflix is remaking what’s traditionally been a success. “We have big hit shows that don’t look like what you’d expect or maybe what the system has always told you,” said Bajaria. “I do feel like for us, it’s having way more stories than the one failure.” Netflix also said it will create a fund of $100 million to bring more underrepresented groups into film and television. The Netflix Fund for Creative Equity will be distributed within initiatives at Netflix and in organizations outside the company over the next five years. Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
CBC

Health Canada approves AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine

(Lee Jin-man/The Associated Press – image credit) After a months-long review, Health Canada regulators today approved the COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford University-AstraZeneca for use in Canada — clearing the way for millions more inoculations in the months ahead. The department’s regulators concluded the shot has an efficacy rate of 62 per cent and have authorized it for use in all adults 18 and older. While it’s less effective than the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines at preventing infection, the shot is 100 per cent effective in preventing the severe outcomes of COVID-19 — including serious illness, hospitalizations and death — the regulators said. “Overall, there are no important safety concerns, and the vaccine was well tolerated by participants,” the decision reads. Canada has secured access to 22 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, most of which are slated to arrive between April and September. A nurse administers a dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Goyang, South Korea, on Friday. Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand has said the government is trying to negotiate faster delivery of these doses now that new, more contagious COVID-19 variants are taking hold in Canada. Health Canada also has authorized the vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute, which has partnered with AstraZeneca to make that company’s COVID-19 product at its facilities in India. That version, which is biologically identical to the AstraZeneca shot but is manufactured under different conditions, has been branded “Covishield.” The Serum Institute, which is working with Mississauga, Ont.-based Verity Pharmaceuticals, will deliver 500,000 doses of its vaccine next Wednesday, the company told CBC News. A further 1 million doses will arrive in April and 500,000 more in early May. With these new doses, Canada now stands to receive about 6.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines by the end of March. That’s enough to fully vaccinate just over 3.2 million people. “This is very encouraging news. It means more people vaccinated, and sooner. Because for AstraZeneca, just like we were for Pfizer and Moderna, we are ready to get doses rolling,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “Vaccines will keep arriving faster and faster as we head into the spring.” WATCH: Anand says Canada will receive first batch of AstraZeneca in coming days Anand told reporters her department “will leave no stone unturned” in its quest to bring more doses into Canada “as quickly as possible.” She said the government has received “positive indications” that the other AstraZeneca deliveries are on track but she could not say just how many shots will arrive in the second quarter. What is known is that at least 26.4 million more doses — 23 million from Moderna and Pfizer combined, 1.5 million AstraZeneca doses from the Serum Institute and another 1.9 million AstraZeneca doses from COVAX, the global vaccine-sharing initiative — will arrive between April and June. All told, the country is projected to have enough supply to fully vaccinate at least 16.45 million people by Canada Day. The supply will grow once delivery schedules for the AstraZeneca doses are confirmed. Canada is a vaccine laggard in the Western world right now; dozens of other countries have vaccinated more people per capita. The government has been insisting that everyone who wants a shot will get one by the end of September. Asked today if the new approval will result in an earlier end date for the vaccination campaign, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said she’s hopeful but there could be more “bumps” and “unexpected challenges” that disrupt delivery schedules. Canada faced shortages earlier this year when Pfizer retooled its Belgian plant and Moderna slashed planned deliveries. ‘Promising evidence’ Some countries — such as France — have restricted the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under the age of 65, even though the World Health Organization insists the product is safe and effective for all age groups Health Canada said the clinical trial results “were too limited to allow a reliable estimate of vaccine efficacy in individuals 65 years of age and older,” but the department was comfortable with approving the shot because of “post-market experience in regions where the vaccine has already been deployed.” Speaking at a technical briefing today, Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser, conceded there was limited clinical trial data about the efficacy of the shot in people over the age of 65 but said regulators approved it because of “promising evidence from real-world use of the vaccine.” Other countries — notably Australia, the European Union and the United Kingdom — have authorized AstraZeneca already for use in their jurisdictions. WATCH | How the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has performed so far: In a study of vaccine efficacy in Scotland — where both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer products have been in widespread use for weeks — researchers found the AstraZeneca product reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospital admissions by roughly 94 per cent, 28 to 34 days after the first shot. The researchers also warned that the study sample was quite small. While there are risks associated with any vaccine, Sharma said, the benefits of getting an AstraZeneca shot “outweigh their potential risks.” Sharma said it will be up to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to decide which groups should get each type of vaccine. And while the AstraZeneca product was found to be less effective than the Pfizer and Moderna shots already approved, Sharma said there’s no doubt that a dose of this vaccine is better than no dose at all. Still better than the flu shot She cautioned Canadians against comparing efficacy rates of the various vaccine products, saying that in the areas that matter most — preventing serious illness, reducing hospitalizations and curbing the number of deaths — “all these vaccines are good.” “If you look across all the clinical trials of the tens of thousands of people who were involved, the number of cases of people who died from COVID-19 that got vaccines was zero,” Sharma said. “The number of people that were hospitalized because their COVID-19 disease was so severe was zero. The number of people that died because of an adverse event or effect of the vaccine was zero.” She also noted that the AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy rate is actually higher than that of other common vaccine products — including the flu shot. Flu vaccines, which differ each year depending on the flu strain in circulation, are typically 54 to 64 effective against seasonal influenza, Sharma said, and yet they are still widely used to offer some level of protection to more people. “I think Canada is hungry for vaccines. We’re putting more on the buffet table to be used,” she said. WATCH: Dr. Sharma outlines efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine Health Canada is recommending that the second dose of the AstraZeneca product be administered four to 12 weeks after the first, but Sharma said there is early evidence suggesting it’s best to wait the full 12 weeks to deploy the second shot. “With an increased interval, the efficacy might be much higher,” she said. The product was approved in Australia, for example, but regulators there recommended a three-month wait between shots. Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer shots, which are based on groundbreaking mRNA technlogy, the AstraZeneca product uses a more conventional viral vector load vaccine platform. The AstraZeneca shot also doesn’t require the same cold storage equipment necessary for the other two. The product can be stored and transported at normal refrigerated temperatures of 2 to 8 C for at least six months. This vaccine also can be easily administered in traditional health care settings, like a doctor’s office or pharmacy. Regulator still reviewing 2 other vaccine candidates Health Canada is still reviewing two other vaccine candidates: one from Johnson & Johnson and another from Novavax. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccines advisory committee will meet today to review the clinical trial data for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A final U.S. decision on issuing emergency use authorization (EUA) could come as early as this weekend. Canada has ordered 10 million doses from Johnson & Johnson with options for up to 28 million more, if necessary. Most of those shots are expected to arrive by the end of September. While Health Canada regulators are aiming to make a decision on this product on a timeline similar to that of the FDA, Sharma said the department is still collecting some data from the manufacturer and a final decision is not expected this weekend.
Local Journalism Initiative

TBM asks: How connected are you?

The Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) wants to know who’s connected and who is not. TBM has set its sights on ensuring every resident in the municipality has a solid internet connection. But first, the town’s dedicated task force is looking for more information on the kind of service residents are currently receiving. “By all means get your broadband tested. That is a big help to us,” said TBM Deputy Mayor and chair of the Rural Access to Broadband Internet Technology (RABIT) task force, Rob Potter. The town is asking residents to perform a CIRA Internet Performance Test in order to better understand current services. As each user performs a CIRA test, their data is anonymously collected and aggregated into a large dataset that spans all of Canada. This data provides the ability to compare connection speeds with other people in the neighbourhood, city or across the country. “The more often you go on and the more places the test is conducted, the better information we have to go to government bodies when we’re looking for funding. As well as when we go to companies and say ‘here’s what the need is,’” Potter said. TBM recently held a public information centre, which invited interested service providers to present possible broadband options to the municipality. “We had very good interest from local internet providers. I think we had nine out,” said TBM Mayor, Alar Soever. “Unfortunately, the larger, more regional service providers did not show up, neither did SWIFT. But, we certainly have a lot of enthusiasm from our local service providers.” Soever added that the RABIT task force currently has a lot of momentum and continues to push forward with the goal to better connect all TBM residents. “Our plan is for fibre optic cable as the preferred choice to every house in the Blue Mountains – every house on every side road and every concession,” said Potter. “There may be areas where we have to jump gaps with other means. We’re open to whatever will succeed.” Additional information on the task force and the CIRA test can be found on the town’s dedicated RABIT webpage. Jennifer Golletz, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, CollingwoodToday.ca
Local Journalism Initiative

OPP Extended Service Office in Wingham on hold

HURON COUNTY – The early excitement of having an office for the OPP in downtown Wingham is fading; the project is on hold for the foreseeable future. “We are still in the process of trying to find a suitable space for a possible Extended Service Office (ESO) office in Wingham. Nothing has been established at this time,” OPP Constable James Stanley told the Wingham Advance Times. Meanwhile, the Huron County OPP announced opening a new Extended Service Office (ESO) in the Town of Goderich on Feb. 18. The new office is located at 33 David Street. In a press release, the OPP say the new office will “enhance police visibility in the community and allow officers to carry out their administrative duties while remaining deployed in Goderich.” Cory Bilyea, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wingham Advance Times
Reuters

Bond markets left smarting from worst rout in years as reflation goes global

From the United States to Germany and Australia, government borrowing costs on Friday were set to end February with their biggest monthly rises in years as expectations for a post-pandemic ignition of inflation gained a life of their own. Australia’s 10-year bond yield and Britain’s 30-year yields were set for their biggest monthly jump since the 2009 global financial crisis. Even after a Friday respite from this week’s brutal drubbing, Australia’s 10-year yield is up 70 basis points in February and New Zealand’s 10-year yield is up almost 77 bps.
The Canadian Press

US consumers rebound to boost spending 2.4% as income jumps

WASHINGTON — Bouncing back from months of retrenchment, America’s consumers stepped up their spending by a solid 2.4% in January in a sign that the economy may be making a tentative recovery from the pandemic recession. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department also showed that personal incomes, which provide the fuel for spending, jumped 10% last month, boosted by cash payments most Americans received from the government. The January spending increase followed two straight monthly spending drops that had raised concerns that consumers, who power most of the economy, were hunkered down, too anxious to travel, shop and spend. Last month’s sharp gain suggests that many people are growing more confident about spending, especially after receiving $600 checks that went to most adults last month in a federal economic aid package. The government also reported Friday that inflation by a measure preferred by the Federal Reserve rose a moderate 0.3% in December. That left prices up 1.5% over the past 12 months, well below the Fed’s 2% target. Besides receiving cash payments, many Americans who have managed to keep their jobs have also been saving money for several months. That could bode well for the economy later this year, once consumers feel more willing to spend, vaccinations are more widely distributed and some version of President Joe Biden’s new economic aid proposal is enacted. Concerns that a strengthening economy will accelerate inflation have sent bond yields surging. On Thursday, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note moved above 1.5% — a level not seen in more than a year and far above the 0.92% it was trading at only two months ago. The move raised alarms on Wall Street and ignited a deep selloff in the stock market. Some investors fear that rising interest rates and the threat of inflation might lead the Fed to raise its benchmark short-term rate too quickly and potentially derail the economy. The tame inflation figure in Friday’s report from the government shows that so far, price increases are mostly mild. In testimony to Congress this week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell downplayed the inflation risk and instead underscored the economy’s struggles. Layoffs are still high. And 10 million jobs remain lost to the pandemic that erupted nearly a year ago. That’s a deeper job loss than was inflicted by the Great Recession of 2008-2009. Still, despite the weakened job market, key sectors of the economy are showing signs of picking up as vaccinations increase and government rescue aid works its way through the economy. The Fed’s ultra-low-rate policy is providing important support as well. Retail sales soared last month. Factory output also rose and has nearly regained its pre-pandemic levels. And sales of newly built homes jumped in January. Martin Crutsinger, The Associated Press
Local Journalism Initiative

PC Connect: Viable resource for transport to essential services

PERTH COUNTY – The provincial stay-at-home order which came into effect on Dec. 26 may have slowed down the use of Perth County’s PC Connect transit system, but Maggie Martin, transit project coordinator, told county council on Feb. 18 that it is still proving its worth getting riders to essential services throughout the county and surrounding areas. Since the shutdown that was declared, PC Connect has paused all paid marketing efforts, and has been focused on encouraging essential travel only. Due to the stay-at-home order, PC Connect saw a 24 per cent decrease in riders during January, compared to December with 43 riders on route A in the northern end of the county and only 10 riders on route B in the south. Since the launch on Nov. 16, there have been 162 riders, with 111 on Route A and 51 on Route B. “As per the Reopening Ontario Act transportation services were recognized as essential,” said Martin. “PC Connect did continue to operate responsibly throughout the province-wide shut down. We have continued to enforce all of our COVID-19 precautions which include 50 per cent reduced capacity, mandatory masks, increased sanitization practices and accessible hand sanitizer on all of our fleet.” PC Connect’s social media accounts are currently focused on encouraging essential travel only, and educating riders on how to travel safely by keeping hand and respiratory etiquette top of mind. “We are working with the local health unit to determine an appropriate timeline to resume our marketing efforts, however at this time organic messaging continues to be consistent with provincial guidelines to stay home and to stay safe,” said Martin. The half-price fare promotion which was to stop at the end of December has been extended until March 31. Additionally, a promotional rate has been developed for organizations looking to purchase pre-paid fare tickets in bulk. To date, 780 adult tickets have been sold to social services organizations within the county and surrounding areas. “PC Connect and our partnership with these organizations have made it easier for residents to access mental health supports, counselling, support groups and other community and social services on a more regular basis,” said Martin. “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide such a critical service for Perth County residents, and look forward to continuing to grow the PC Connect service.” Due to the delayed launch last year and ongoing emergency orders, PC Connect is currently operating under budget. The surplus in both operating and marketing dollars have been reallocated to consecutive funding years. “In just a few months of operation, PC Connect has proven to be a vital asset to many residents throughout the county and surrounding areas,” she said. “As an accessible and affordable public transportation service in our rural community, PC Connect has helped residents get to work, and reach other essential needs such as grocery stores and medical appointments throughout the pandemic.” Martin said staff are confident they will be able to regain ridership and continue growth as soon as it is safe, and they can resume marketing efforts. “PC Connect is clearly a huge asset to these organizations and their clients so we plan to continue to work very closely with our not-for-profit social service organizations to serve their needs and continue to build our customer base,” she said. Voyago has received the new fleet of buses. Martin was very excited to announce they are working on having them branded with the PC Connect logo and they will be on the road within the next few weeks. “In terms of our routes we will be making a few modifications which we will roll out when we start to operate our new fleet,” she said. “Our operational data shows we have been running slightly behind schedule, so to be more reliable and on time we will be adding 10 minutes to each run on each route.” To do so without going over the allocated operation time of 16 hours per day, they will be removing a run from route B and scaling it back to a total of four runs per day which was the original plan. “Both routes will have four runs a day when we roll out these new enhancements,” said Martin. Colin Burrowes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Listowel Banner
Local Journalism Initiative

It’s all about confidence: Thriving in a COVID environment the theme of International Women’s Day event

BROCKTON – Area residents – both women and men – will have the opportunity to attend a virtual Women’s Day event featuring keynote speaker Diane Crawford, on March 8, 6: 30-7: 30 p.m. The event is part of the AWE (Advancing Women Economically) webinar series to assist local women in business. Brockton’s community development co-ordinator, Paulette Peirol, said the Women’s Day event is the highlight of the AWE series. “This is really exciting,” said Peirol. It’s hosted by the regional economic development group Saugeen Connects, which is a partnership of Saugeen Economic Development Corporation and five member municipalities – Brockton, Hanover, West Grey, Minto and Wellington North. Peirol commented on the fact Saugeen Connects involves three counties. The Women’s Day event, entitled Removing Barriers to Success: The 5 Cs, is free of charge and is taking place via Zoom. Pre-registration is required – contact [email protected], or call 519-799-5750 (toll-free 1-877-335-7332). Diane Crawford of The Voyage Inc. is a leadership development specialist and international speaker. Peirol said the keynote speaker’s research has allowed her to focus on the “five Cs” that allow women to grow and thrive during COVID-19. The first four Cs are confidence, collaboration, communication and connections. The fifth, said Peirol, is COVID. Included in her presentation are practical tips on controlling beliefs that hold women back. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world, but moving forward is possible, with a new set of skills and a supportive network. The keynote speaker will cover the impact of COVID 19 then discuss some extremely practical actions we can all take to move forward and thrive. Crawford’s information indicates individuals with a high level of confidence have a belief in their ability to succeed and in their unique skills, and a low fear of failure and willingness to be outside of their comfort zone. At any time, many women struggle with confidence, but the current pandemic has challenged even the most courageous of us. In her talk, Crawford will share information about the power of confidence, recognizing how well we have done so far. She will then move into practical approaches to develop more confidence. The idea of self-limiting beliefs will be examined, along with how we have the power to reframe those beliefs. In the second part of her talk, Crawford share information about the value of a collaborative approach, and the benefit of connections along with powerful communication tools. Crawford has a diverse background. Originally from rural Manitoba and Saskatchewan, she has lived in other parts of Canada and overseas. In 2020 she developed and delivered a pilot Women’s Leadership Development program for Afrimac, which is a program to support women in West African countries. Afrimac is supported by governments of the European Economic Union and local affiliates and is aligned with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Some of the challenges faced by these women included the traditional role of women, lack of business expertise, poor access to resources, rural and isolated locations, lack of confidence and connections. Also, in 2020 she developed and delivered a Women’s Leadership Retreat held in Grey-Bruce and is preparing more for 2021. Along with delivering keynote speeches at Women in Leadership and Business conferences, Crawford was asked to be on their advisory board due to her passion for women’s leadership development. She has been a regular keynote speaker at the Human Capital Institute conferences across the U.S., as well as many other speaking and training engagements with organizations across Canada. Her support for women entrepreneurs is also reflected in her support of SheEo, an international network of women who show their support to other women entrepreneurs in several ways including a financial commitment Since relocating to the Grey-Bruce area, Crawford has looked for ways to be involved in the community and is a supporter of the United Way and a member of the Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce. Crawford has a varied business background and skill set. From managing her own start-up to directing a team of over 400 professional staff, she has honed her coaching and people development skills. She offers first-hand strategies to manage the dynamics of change, build self-awareness, understand values, leverage strengths and create vision. Prior to starting her company, The Voyage Inc., Crawford held several senior leadership positions at The Co-operators: underwriting, finance and administration. In addition, she successfully operated her own insurance agency for several years. She has been a high achiever throughout her career but more importantly has developed and positively influenced many others. A captivating storyteller and international speaker, Diane has enlightened audiences from small businesses to large international conferences. Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Walkerton Herald Times
Local Journalism Initiative

Donation helps WES for Youth Online

WALKERTON – A cheque for $1,360.90 from Walkerton and District Right to Life will help WES for Youth Online at a time when assistance is urgently needed. Emma Martin, community relations director with WES for Youth Online, said the donation will pay for eight hours of online counselling. The COVID-19 has not been easy for young people. Over the past year, online counsellors have been working with youth to identify and deal with stress. Through counselling sessions, young people are assisted in reducing anxiety and symptoms of depression due to COVID-19 and associated losses. Counselling helps improve their mood and outlook for the future. In addition, the counsellors provide education and practical strategies to help young people cope with grief and anger from losses sustained during the pandemic and beyond. They help develop conflict resolution skills for managing relationships at home with parents and siblings, and provide emotional support for the continued development of healthy self-esteem and future goal orientation, said Martin. Jean Hedley of Walkerton and District Right to Life said the funds donated last week were raised in an online auction held from June 28 to Feb. 10 through SilentAuctionBiz.com. For more information, visit www.wesforyouthonline.ca. WES for Youth provides an online space for youth that is inclusive, comfortable and familiar to be able to talk about what they are facing today. It’s estimated one in five children and youth in Ontario will experience some form of mental health challenge. According to the WES for Youth website, over the last 10 years there has been a 72 per cent increase in emergency department visits, and a 79 per cent increase in hospitalization for children and youth seeking treatment for mental health issues in Ontario. More than 28,000 children and youth are waiting longer than 18 months for mental health treatment. WES for Youth knows kids can’t wait. Counselling for youth ages 13-24 is provided free, through the generosity of donors, community and corporate partners. Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Walkerton Herald Times
Local Journalism Initiative

Tattoo industry hit hard by lockdowns

The tattoo industry, like many others, have been hit hard during COVID. Obviously not being an essential service, the pandemic has shutdown thousands of tattooers’ livelihoods. Tattooing has grown to become a $3 billion industry worldwide, with 38% of Canadians having at least one tattoo. Revenue growth for the Tattoo Artists industry is expected to decline 9.5% as a result of the pandemic and overall economic downturn. All tattooers have been forced to close up shop during the lockdowns as their work requires close contact and sitting with people for prolonged periods. Sjeli Pearse, a local tattoo artist who is currently living and working in Toronto, shares her experience with SaultOnline as she is currently closing up her studio. “We recently made the hard decision to let go of our location,” Pearse shares that for more than half of her lease she has not been able to work in her rented space due to the pandemic, “it’s hit the community really hard in Toronto especially because the lockdowns have been so much longer.” “At this point we really can’t trust that we will open, or that we will be allowed to stay open, or that clients will even have money to get tattooed.” Although the tattoo industry usually weathers economic downturns well, COVID has stopped them from providing their services. They already have to maintain sterilized work spaces and be extremely aware of their shop environment. Adapting their practice to COVID safety measures will be a necessity in order for tattooers to reopen and return to business. Follow SaultOnline as we follow this industry going forward. Josie Fiegehen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaultOnline.com
Reuters

U.S. SEC subpoenas Overstock, seeks information on 2019 retail forecast

The online retailer and blockchain tech investor is cooperating with the investigation, it said in a regulatory filing, and continues to provide documents requested in the subpoena. Overstock did not respond to a request for additional details on the subpoena. “Although we believe that we have fully complied with all relevant laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that the SEC will not commence an enforcement action against us or members of our management, or as to the ultimate resolution of any enforcement action that the SEC may decide to bring,” Overstock said.
Local Journalism Initiative

Green’s Meat Market sends delegation to plead with North Huron council

NORTH HURON – Shaelin and Shelby Green, representing Green’s Meat Market, made a special request at the North Huron council meeting on Feb. 16. The pair asked councillors to make an exception to the delay in hooking up to the township’s water and sewage system. “Green’s Meat Market, along with many other businesses on the border of North Huron and Morris-Turnberry, have been placed in the middle of a crossfire due to the lack of ability to come to an agreement on cross border services,” they told council. The Greens stated that since the business’s devastating fire last June, they “have received a tremendous amount of support from Morris-Turnberry and believe it is time we receive the same from North Huron.” Reeve Bernie Bailey had a response ready for the delegation, thanking them for taking the time to come and talk to them and expressed condolences for the business’s loss. “But I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear, but I’m going to tell you what you need to know,” he said. Bailey said that he had spoken with “their dad,” shortly after the fire and at that time, he had hoped that Morris-Turnberry would “surely have reached an agreement six months from now,” when the building was ready to open. He told them that several attempts had been made to Morris-Turnberry council, but all he heard was “no” to any agreement. “North Huron values your business, and we recognize the contributions your business makes to our community,” Bailey told the delegation. “We very much want your business to be back in operation.” Bailey encouraged the Greens to approach the Morris-Turnberry council and present a delegation to them regarding the subject. Once an agreement is in place, North Huron would “gladly work with Greens.” Bailey said North Huron council will do everything in their power to get Green’s Meat Market back up and running, but “I have to have an agreement to make it legal.” In an interview with the Wingham Advance Times after the Feb. 16 meeting, Bailey said he believes Morris-Turnberry doesn’t care at all about Green’s Meat Market and their troubles, saying “they get their taxes, no matter if Green’s is operating or not.” The Greens “approached the wrong council,” he said, adding, “they need to approach Morris-Turnberry.” The legal aspects of hooking up the water and sewage alone are hurdles Bailey can’t jump. “Without an agreement, we are not authorized to work on Morris-Turnberry land,” he said. Cory Bilyea, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wingham Advance Times
Reuters

Tom Holland goes through transformation in opioid crisis movie ‘Cherry’

British actor Tom Holland, best known for playing Spider-Man, went through a physical transformation to play a drug addict war veteran suffering from PTSD in the new Russo brothers’ movie “Cherry”. Holland, who rose to global fame when he was cast by the Russo brothers as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the 2016 superhero movie “Captain America: Civil War”, said he wasn’t sure if he was ready to take on the title role in the new gritty crime drama. “Cherry” is inspired by Nico Walker’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name and tells the story of 23-year-old Ohio-native Cherry who, disenfranchised and heartbroken after believing he has lost the love of his life Emily (Ciara Bravo) enlists in the army and soon finds himself serving in Iraq.
The Canadian Press

Henderson sidelined after surgery in new blow for Liverpool

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson faces a long spell on the sidelines after undergoing an operation on the groin injury he sustained in last weekend’s Merseyside derby loss against Everton. Liverpool has not put a timescale on the midfielder’s recovery but said he will be out until at least April in another blow to its fading Premier League title defence. “Henderson has successfully had a corrective procedure carried out on the adductor injury,” Liverpool said in a statement on Friday. “He will begin a rehabilitation program immediately.” Liverpool is in sixth place, 19 points behind leader Manchester City but the six-time European champions remain in the Champions League. Henderson, who has been playing as an emergency centre back, joins a lengthy injury list. The three senior central defenders, Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, have all had their seasons ended prematurely while backup Fabinho is still out, having played just one of the last seven matches because of a muscle injury. James Milner is still sidelined by a hamstring problem and fellow midfielder Naby Keita only returned to the squad last weekend for the first time since mid-December. Forward Diogo Jota began full training this week after three months out with a knee problem. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press