Draximage Gluceptate imaging agent shortage expected to Nov 30

Public healthYesterdayCanada

In P.E.I., sweeping new strategy takes aim at ‘pervasive drinking culture’

P.E.I. released a 16-recommendation alcohol strategy after five years of planning, aiming to reduce drinking rather than ban it. Measures include screening for high-risk drinking at medical appointments, youth programs, pricing by alcohol content, and putting 3 per cent of net alcohol profits into community and harm-reduction work. Alcohol causes about 7,000 ER visits and hospitalizations a year on the Island, and impaired driving rates are nearly three times the national average.

The strategy links alcohol policy directly to health care: screening in clinics, and a share of liquor profits funding harm reduction.

Public health2 days agoCanada

Canada plunges into early flu season as vaccines begin to roll out

Canada’s flu season began seven weeks earlier than usual, with national positivity rates exceeding the five per cent epidemic threshold by mid-October. While H1N1 is the dominant strain, experts note that current vaccines remain effective at reducing the severity of illness and the risk of hospitalization.

You can now offer patients the current flu vaccine, which remains effective against the dominant H1N1 strain.

Due in 7 daysPublic health3 days agoCanada

Long COVID patients 'devastated' by impending changes to virtual care access in B.C.

More than 300,000 British Columbians live with long COVID, and the province's virtual-care clinic serves over 8,500 patients. From Nov. 1, virtual group appointments will be capped at 30 patients, down from groups of up to 50, and the per-patient fee falls from $14.71 to $11.42. The clinic says allied health will no longer be available in virtual group settings and patients should expect longer waits; the changes were signed off by the Medical Services Commission on Sept. 24.

The changes land Nov. 1 on a clinic that is the main virtual-care route for thousands of long COVID patients across B.C.