Public healthToday · Oct 25, 2026Canada

Egg freezing is becoming significantly more popular in Canada

Egg-freezing retrievals in Canada rose from 217 cycles in 2013 to 2,663 in 2025, with over 22,000 eggs banked last year, up from 775, per the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society. Doctors cite high living costs, career ambitions, later parenthood and a lack of a partner. A cycle typically costs $11,000-$16,000 with medication and a year of storage, and public funding does not cover elective freezing. Freezing 20-25 eggs in the early 30s gives about a 75% chance of a baby, but success is never guaranteed - and only about 11% of people who froze eggs have gone back to thaw them.

Elective fertility preservation is surging while staying out of reach for many: a cycle costs $11,000-$16,000 with no public funding. Anyone considering it should know the costs, the odds, and that a fertility-clinic consultation is the recommended first step.

Read the original

News source: Egg freezing is becoming significantly more popular in Canada (opens in a new tab) — CBC News

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.

News source: CBC News (opens in a new tab)

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.

News source: Global News Health (opens in a new tab)

AlertPublic health3 days agoCanada

Pfizer's Bicillin L-A penicillin shortage runs to May 2027

Pfizer Canada reports its long-acting penicillin Bicillin L-A (penicillin G benzathine 1,200,000 units, intramuscular suspension, DIN 02291924) remains in a Tier 3 critical shortage after a disruption in manufacturing. The shortage began Dec 2, 2025 and is expected to run until May 31, 2027.

Bicillin L-A is the standard treatment for syphilis and for preventing rheumatic fever — a critical shortage means prescribers and pharmacies need alternatives now.

Official source: Health Product Shortages Canada (opens in a new tab)

Due in 6 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.