Impacts of COVID-19 on Health Care Workers: Infection Prevention and Control (ICHCWIPC). statcan.gc.ca, Nov 23: The purpose of this crowdsource questionnaire is to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian health care workers, with particular focus on access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the workplace. … Information collected may be used by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information and other government organizations to help to inform the delivery of health care services and to better understand what health care workers need in terms of equipment, training and support. Read more
Des millions de Québécois à vacciner. ledevoir.com, 25 novembre. ...Actuellement, les infirmières, les infirmières auxiliaires, les médecins, les inhalothérapeutes, les sages-femmes et les pharmaciens peuvent administrer des vaccins, dont celui contre la COVID-19. Québec souhaite octroyer ce pouvoir à d’autres professionnels, comme les dentistes, les vétérinaires et les ergothérapeutes. Lire plus
Long-awaited federal rent subsidy program for businesses hurt by COVID-19 opens today. ctvnews.ca, Nov 23: The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy replaces an earlier rent-support program for businesses introduced in the spring that saw little pickup because it relied on landlords to apply for help. The new program will cover up to 65 per cent of rent or commercial mortgage interest on a sliding scale based on revenue declines, with an extra 25 per cent available to the hardest-hit firms. Read more
CDA [California Dental Association] pushes state to include dental team members in phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. cda.org, Nov 24: …because the plan currently gives local health departments deference in determining how to classify which essential workers fall into phase 1, dental offices and their staff could be overlooked by many city and county health departments and might not be inoculated until the second phase of distribution Read more
Covid: Dentists 'may have to close' without more support. bbc.com, Nov 24: Some dental practices could close as a result of the pandemic, the British Dental Association (BDA) Scotland and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) has warned. The number of patients dentists can treat has been cut by rules to stop the virus from spreading. Read more
British dentists feel suicidal amid soaring pressures as Whitehall 'turns a blind eye' to the crisis. portsmouth.co.uk, Nov 23: Whitehall has been accused of ‘turning a blind eye’ towards a crisis in British dentistry, with plummeting morale and soaring pressures pushing more dentists to the brink of suicide. Read more
Kenya Doctors Threaten to Strike Over Lack of COVID Protections. voanews.com, Nov 24: ...the secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, Chibanzi Mwachonda, said his members plan to go on strike because the government is not giving them medical insurance. Read more
Dentists slam wrongheaded NHS charge hike in middle of pandemic. bda.org, Nov 23: The British Dental Association (BDA) has slammed the latest inflation-busting 5% increase in NHS dental charges in England announced today, accusing government of erecting further barriers to care during the COVID pandemic, when services remain so limited and focused on dealing with an unprecedented backlog. Read more
Stenhousemuir dentist calls for COVID hygiene measures rethink to cut patient backlog. falkirkherald.co.uk, Nov 24: A Stenhousemuir dentist insists the profession faces a “long, long time” before returning to normality unless strict coronavirus hygiene measures are rethought. Read more
WVU dentist recommends being vigilant about children’s dental health during pandemic. wboy.com, Nov 23: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many to abandon their routines, including some that are health-related, leaving many professionals concerned. Gina Graziani, chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the WVU School of Dentistry, said one of the routines people have abandoned is taking their children for dental visits, which has had a big impact. Read more
Dental visits down during pandemic, dentists urging people to stay on track. koaa.com, Nov 24: Dental offices seeing about 70% of normal visits. ... Right now, dentists say the COVID‑19 pandemic has some people feeling a little hesitant about coming in for their annual appointments. Read more
Qantas will ban travellers who don't have the COVID vaccine — can other businesses follow suit? abc.net.au, Nov 24: ... the Australian Dental Association said dentists would accept people without vaccinations. Read more
ADA HPI – Week of November 2, 2020 - COVID-19 Economic Impact on Dental Practices (Expert Panel Discussion). youtube.com, American Dental Association, Nov20: The latest COVID-19 Economic Impact Poll data from the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) show a slight decline in patient volume and staffing levels in dental offices. Poll results also show operating costs are on the rise, while profitability has decreased significantly. What does this mean for the dental sector? Watch as HPI Chief Economist & VP Marko Vujicic and HPI Senior Health Policy Analyst Chelsea Fosse share the latest data and get key insights from an expert panel, including whether we are about to see another slowdown in patient volume, how consumer job loss will impact patient volume, if the pandemic is causing an increase in retirement rates among dentists, and more. Watch 1:02:10
ADA says dental care should continue during resurgence phase of pandemic. ada.org, Nov 20: ...In a Nov. 20 email to members, ADA President Daniel J. Klemmedson, D.D.S., M.D., addressed a question that has been on the minds of dentists everywhere: would the ADA once again recommend that dental practices postpone all but urgent and emergency procedures as the Association did in March? The answer, which is also addressed in a Nov. 17 ADA statement, is that the ADA “firmly believes” dental care can continue to be delivered safely. Read more
ADA urges CDC to include dentists in COVID-19 vaccine plan. ada.org, Nov 20: The ADA is asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to incorporate dentists into its framework for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. In a Nov. 20 letter to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, ADA…observed “there may be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine” once available. They also expressed concern that dentists and dental team members aren’t currently included in the agency’s outline to help states plan a vaccination response to the virus despite the fact that “dentistry is an essential health care service.” Read more
Survey: CT [Connecticut] Residents Trust Their Dentists to Assure Safety. patch.com, Nov 23: More Than 90% Are Comfortable at Dental Visits Since Coronavirus; Statewide Survey Finds Some Have Delayed Dental Work Due to Pandemic. Read more
Dentists Are Adopting - and Adapting to - Using Telehealth to Stay Afloat. mhealthintelligence.com, Nov 23: A new survey finds that dentists are not only using telehealth to stay in touch with patients, but are looking at alternative payment models and planning a long future with connected care. Read more
South Australia lockdown repealed - what this means for dental practices. ada.org.au, Nov 20: The state-wide hard lockdown in South Australia (SA), which came into effect two days ago, will be repealed as of midnight this coming Saturday night. The ADA has welcomed the news and is actively working with the SA Government to dentists and their teams in the state back to work as quickly as possible. Read more
How Bay Area dentists have adjusted their practices during a pandemic. eastbaytimes.com, Nov 22: Longer days, stringent new protocols keep dental offices open. Q&A with Dr. Mandeep “Mona” Sidhu of Smile Line Dentistry in Antioch and Livermore about the challenges she and other dentists have faced in trying to make their offices and practices virus-free and assuring leery patients it’s safe to return. Read more
Trudeau warns COVID-19 vaccine will come later to Canada than other countries. nationalpost.com, Nov 24: 'One of the things to remember is Canada no longer has any domestic production capacity for vaccines.' Trudeau said Canada’s doses would come in the first quarter of next year. But he said the first doses from the assembly line will go to the countries where the vaccine is made. Read more
Two shots. A waiting period. Why the coronavirus vaccine won’t be a quick fix. globalnews.ca, Nov 24: News about a potential coronavirus vaccine has, predictably, prompted excitement from a lockdown-weary world. But experts say: Not so fast. … Prioritization strategies will steer who gets the shots first, and demand will outweigh supply for many months after the first batch is doled out. Read more
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday. cbc.ca, Nov 25: B.C. Delays, conflicts and confusion hampered Ontario's COVID-19 response, auditor general finds. B.C. confirms record high 941 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 more deaths. Doctors, health-care advocates say Alberta's new restrictions are inadequate. Absenteeism was an issue at N.L. schools before the pandemic. Now, it's 'really critical,' says child advocate. Read more
Rapid coronavirus tests deployed to some Ontario hospitals, long-term care homes. globalnews.ca, Nov 24: ...Premier Doug Ford said rapid tests, which can produce results in minutes rather than days, have been sent to 36 long-term care homes and 27 retirement homes, and some hospitals. Read more
Outbreak at University Hospital in London, Ont. now includes all medical floors. london.ctvnews.ca, Nov 24: OVID-19 outbreaks in two units at the London Health Sciences Centre's (LHSC) University Hospital have now spread to all medical floors at the hospital, according to the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU). Read more
Some in-school public health services on hold. haliburtonecho.ca, Nov 24: Some vaccinations and screening programs typically administered in schools have been relocated to health unit offices or put on hold for the 2020/2021 school year, members of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District board of health were told at their meeting Nov. 19. “We decided to put on hold some of our programming in school systems obviously because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, medical officer of health. Oral health screening will be delayed and the fluoride varnish program cancelled this year. Read more
Canada adds record 5,713 new coronavirus infections as global cases top 59 million. globalnews.ca, Nov 23: ...In a statement released Monday, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said the number of people across the country who are experiencing “severe illness continues to increase.” “This situation is putting pressure on local healthcare resources and forcing hospitals to make the difficult decision to cancel elective surgeries and procedures in several areas of the country,” she wrote. Read more
Canada secured 26K doses of Eli Lilly COVID-19 antibody treatment. ctvnews.ca, Nov 24: ...Over the weekend, Health Canada authorized the monoclonal antibody therapy for emergency use in helping treat COVID-19 infections. The single antibody treatment called bamlanivimab has been approved for use in adults and children aged 12 or older with mild to moderate coronavirus infections. Read more
COVID-19 vaccine race is a long way from over, and human challenge trials still have a role to play. cbc.ca, Nov 24 [OPINION]: The past several weeks have brought good news about vaccines to fight COVID-19. Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca have reported results (preliminary in the case of the latter two) from their field trials, showing high efficacy for their vaccines. This unreservedly good news does not, however, mean that the race for coronavirus vaccines will be over soon. For one thing, the bulk of preliminary results speak about efficacy in preventing disease, but not about efficacy in preventing infection. Read more
Pandemic adding to pressure on rural women's shelters. cbc.ca, Nov 24: … Call volume up 75%. Women's shelters in rural eastern Ontario say they're coping with an excessive number of crisis calls and an increasingly volatile environment for women, all while dealing with COVID-19 restrictions on their staff and facilities. Read more
Airport industry group calls for urgent aid as pandemic lockdown chokes off revenue. ctvnews.ca, Nov 24: The Canadian Airports Council is calling for urgent government aid as travel restrictions continue to take a toll on airports' revenues. The organization, which represents more than 100 airports nationwide, is asking the government to implement a COVID-19 testing program at airports to reduce or eliminate quarantine restrictions and provide interest-free loans or direct operational support for airports, among other measures, it said in a statement. Read more
Health Canada grants emergency-use authorization to Eli Lilly's COVID-19 antibody treatment. ctvnews.ca, Nov 23: According to a press release issued Friday, the single antibody treatment called bamlanivimab has been approved for use in adults and children aged 12 or older with mild to moderate coronavirus infections. Lilly says the treatment is for those who risk progressing to severe COVID-19 symptoms or hospitalization. It is not authorized for patients who are already hospitalized or require oxygen. Read more
Trudeau joins G20 in promising COVID-19 aid to poor nations, rejecting protectionism. ctvnews.ca, Nov 22: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined leaders from the world's 20 richest nations on Sunday in a promise to work together to keep trade flowing, fight climate change and provide COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries. The promises are contained in a final communique issued by G20 leaders at the end of two days of largely closed-door virtual discussions ostensibly focused on co-ordinating an international response to the pandemic. Read more
COVID-19: Almost a third of tests in Vancouver Coastal Health now administered by gargle, not invasive swab. theprovince.com, Nov 23: The percentage of tests that are coming back positive in B.C. has soared from 1.6 per cent in mid October to the most recent 6.7 per cent. Read more
Coronavirus live updates: U.S. reports highest daily death toll since early May. washingtonpost.com, Nov 25: Global growth in new coronavirus cases elsewhere around the world, especially Europe, slowed last week, according to the World Health Organization. The CDC intends to shorten the recommended self-quarantine period for people who have may been exposed to the coronavirus. The hope is compliance will improve if the guidelines seem less daunting. Read more
6.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses expected to be shipped to states by mid-December. thehill.com, Nov 24: ...An estimated 6.4 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine will be distributed to states and territories by mid-December, assuming it receives Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization by that point, Operation Warp Speed officials told reporters Tuesday. State officials were notified Friday how many doses they should expect to receive in the initial distribution, and they will make their own decisions about who will be prioritized for the first doses. Read more
EU seeks fast-track bypassing of pharma patents in emergencies. theguardian.pe.ca, Nov 25: The European Union wants faster procedures to produce generic versions of drugs without the consent of patent holders, an EU document says, in a move meant to bypass usual intellectual rights protections in exceptional circumstances. So-called compulsory licensing is allowed under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in emergencies as a waiver of normal regulations and could be applied during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Malaysia's Top Glove says virus outbreak may push prices up. ctvnews.ca, Nov 25: Malaysia's Top Glove, the world's largest maker of rubber gloves, said Wednesday that supply disruptions at its factories due to an outbreak of the coronavirus may push glove prices up. The company said it shuttered 20 of its factories in an area outside Kuala Lumpur in stages since Nov. 17 after nearly 3,000 workers tested positive for the virus. Another eight facilities in the same area are currently running below 20% of capacity, and will also be closed to screen and quarantine workers. Read more
Oxford Covid vaccine hit 90% success rate thanks to dosing error. theguardian.com, Nov 23: Participants given first shot at half strength by mistake were found to be better protected. The Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine trials reached 90% efficacy by accident thanks to the “serendipity” of an error that led to some participants receiving half doses, it has emerged. Read more
Russia says Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine 95 per cent effective. ctvnews.ca, Nov 24: Russia said Tuesday its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was 95 per cent effective and would be cheaper and easier to store than some alternatives, as the global race heats up to develop a jab. The announcement was the latest in a flurry of breakthroughs as several vaccine makers worldwide published preliminary data showing efficacy rates of 90 per cent and higher. Read more
Some children at a higher risk for COVID-19 infections than others. ctvnews.ca, Nov 23: A large study of pediatric patients across the U.S. suggests that young children are less susceptible to COVID-19 infections and those who do test positive show only mild symptoms. The study revealed that four per cent of young children who tested positive for the virus showed mild symptoms when compared to their adult counterparts. Read more
A new model projects COVID-19 cases in the U.S. will nearly double over the next two months. ctvnews.ca, Nov 24: COVID-19 is running unabated across almost every American community, and one model projects it will take the country just under two months to reach a staggering 20 million cases. The U.S. could nearly double its current numbers -- about 12.4 million reported infections -- by January 20, according to the Washington University in St. Louis forecasting model. Read more
Peak of third COVID-19 wave still weeks away. thehill.com, Nov 23: The skyrocketing number of new coronavirus infections in the United States is likely to climb further over the next several weeks, even in the hardest-hit areas where soaring case loads are starting to overwhelm hospitals and medical facilities. Read more
AstraZeneca says late-stage trials of its COVID-19 vaccine were 'highly effective' in preventing disease. cbc.ca, Nov 23: Average efficacy rate for two different dosing regimens was 70 per cent, researchers said. AstraZeneca said Monday that late-stage trials showed that its COVID-19 vaccine with Oxford University was up to 90 per cent effective in preventing disease. The vaccine is one of several that Canada has preordered. Read more
The coronavirus pandemic 'Great Reset' theory and a false vaccine claim debunked. bbc.com, Nov 22: Misinformation about a Covid-19 vaccine and pandemic conspiracy theories continue to thrive on social media. Here's what we've been fact-checking this week. Read more
How can all Canadians get good dental care? New U of T free clinic aims to figure it out. cbc.ca, Nov 24: Up to 2,000 GTA families will soon be able to get free dental care at new clinic. At the same time, they'll also be participating in research aimed at making sure every Canadian has access to dental coverage, and that such charity is no longer necessary in the future. The clinic is the centrepiece of what's being billed as the largest-ever dental public health service and research program, opening Tuesday at the University of Toronto. Read more
Mauvaise haleine: des huiles essentielles en renfort. nouvelles.ulaval.ca, 19 novembre : Le thé du Labrador, la menthe poivrée et la sarriette des montagnes efficaces contre une bactérie associée à l'halitose. Lire plus
It’s time to make room for vaping in the harm reduction tent. thespec.com, Nov 24 [OPINION]: It’s taken a long time but when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, the concept of harm reduction is increasingly accepted as both humane and an effective approach to addressing addiction by public health authorities and the general public. … But when applied to smoking, the concept of harm reduction has not yet broken through. Read more
Canadians warn of self-harm risk amid severe shortage of antidepressant drug. ctvnews.ca, Nov 23: …The Canadian manufacturer of antidepressant Nardil, also known as phenelzine sulfate, announced in March that it wouldn’t be able to offer a constant stock of Nardil due to a global shortage of the medication’s active ingredient. While pharmacies were able to acquire some supply from manufacturer ERFA Canada 2012 in August, Health Canada now expects the shortage to last until April 2021. Read more
Hamilton’s St. Joe’s hospital uses $5-million robot to assist with lung cancer surgery. thespec.com, Nov 24:…last June, a dentist noticed a lesion on her tongue. It was oral cancer. And then, while successfully treated at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, a CT scan showed she also had lung cancer. The nodule on her lung had metastasized from her original breast cancer. ... While cursed with the disease — she does not smoke or drink — she also counts herself fortunate. If not for the lesion on her tongue, the lung cancer might have gone unnoticed longer, and early detection is critical. Read more
Coalition of clinicians, public policy experts and First Nations join forces to reduce incidences of cigarette smoking on Reserves. newswire.ca, Nov 24: The use of cigarettes on First Nations Reserves is exponentially higher than elsewhere and is a huge driver of disease and preventable death. The Canadian Coalition for Harm Reduction recently released its White Paper "Tobacco Control and Community Based Harm Reduction interventions The Case for Tobacco Harm Reduction in Canadian Indigenous Communities". It proposes a research study on First Nation reserve(s) to study alternatives to cigarettes – like vape products – as a harm reduction tool. Read more
Medical Society ‘Encouraged’ By Recent Throne Speech. 919thebend.ca, Nov 23: The president of the New Brunswick Medical Society says he is encouraged by several health-care commitments in the recent throne speech. Read more
New West-Burnaby MP launches national push for pharmacare. burnabynow.com, Nov 22: Peter Julian won’t rest until he sees a universal, single-payer, comprehensive and public pharmacare plan passed in Canada. The New Westminster-Burnaby MLA is spearheading a national campaign to pass Bill C-213, An Act to Enact the Canada Pharmacare Act. Read more
Manitoba pharmacists lowest compensated in country for giving flu vaccines. cbc.ca, Nov 23: Provincial compensation for Manitoba pharmacists giving the flu shot is the lowest in the country, despite the extra personal protective equipment (PPE) required, rising case counts and the province's chief medical officer stressing the importance of everyone getting a shot this flu season. A Manitoba pharmacist administering a flu shot gets $7 from the government — but in neighbouring Saskatchewan, a pharmacist delivering the exact same shot gets nearly double the amount at $13. Read more
NHS dental surgery fees in Northamptonshire jump by nearly £50 on average in space of five years. northamptonshire.co.uk, Nov 24: An investigation has revealed the cost of dental surgery under the NHS in Northamptonshire has jumped nearly 15 per cent in five years. It comes with a warning from dentists that people are 'abandoning' vital NHS dental treatments because they cannot afford the rising fees. Read more
Grant in hand, city plans to study fluoride. spokesman.com, Nov 25: After a bitter battle this summer over fluoridating the city’s water supply, Spokane is preparing to hire a consultant to study the issue. The process of choosing a consultant is expected to take months, and the city is years away from adding fluoride to its water, a supplement health experts say can substantially reduce tooth decay. Read more
Dental practices start publicly reporting quality measures for the first time. ada.org, Nov 23: Five dental practices have joined forces as members of the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality to become the first in the country to publicly report on oral health quality measures. These dental practices serve a diverse demographic and geographic range of pediatric and adult patients in rural and urban communities throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. Read more
Steep rise in hospital admissions for mouth cancer across Yorkshire amid dentistry cuts, data reveals. yorkshirepost.co.uk, Nov 24: Health chiefs must urgently overhaul NHS dentistry to combat rocketing rates of mouth cancer in the UK, including ‘significant’ rises across trusts in Yorkshire, campaigners have warned. Read more
Missouri town averts rollback of fluoridation with help from early notification law. ada.org, Nov 23: Missouri is only one of five states that has enacted an early notification law, and it came in handy when the community of Park Hills in the southeast part of the Show-Me State came close to having its community water fluoridation program terminated. The city council had been discussing the possible end of fluoride use in the city’s water for months, and after listening to public input, reviewing petitions and hearing professional opinions, the resolution to cease the use of fluoride in the city’s water supply died for lack of motion during an October meeting. Read more
Some in Yorkshire admit crying while waiting for dentists. thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, Nov 23: A total of 49 per cent of people in Yorkshire and Humberside have had a bad experience while visiting the dentist, a new poll has revealed. Patients are not inclined to forget the experience either, with 88 per cent admitting that their bad experience has made them feel more anxious about visiting the dentist in future. Read more
OxyContin maker Purdue pleads guilty to charges related to opioid crisis. cbc.ca, Nov 24: Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty Tuesday to three criminal charges, formally admitting its role in an opioid epidemic that has contributed to hundreds of thousands of deaths over the past two decades. Read more
A top Democrat on the House antitrust panel sets sights on Big Pharma after wrapping up tech probe. cnbc.com, Nov 24: Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., vice chairman of the subcommittee, is calling for a hearing to probe federal enforcers’ approach to evaluating pharmaceutical mergers. Neguse wrote in his letter that these deals could have a harmful impact on consumer prices, which can sometimes be a sign of an antitrust violation. Read more
Essential Science: Microbial concerns with vaping products grows. digitaljournal.com, Nov 23: This year has seen an increase in scientific studies looking at microbial contamination in vaping liquids. While the reports show variability with product types and manufacturers, the concerns are sufficient and suggest a new health standard is needed. Read more
Dalhousie University – Current course offerings
McGill University – Continuing dental education
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry University – Continuing professional development
Université Laval – Formation continue
University of Manitoba – Continuing professional development
Université de Montréal – Formation dentaire continue
University of Alberta – Program and courses
University of British Columbia – Calendar of courses
University of Saskatchewan – Continuing professional dental education
University of Toronto – Continuing dental education
2021
January 25–28: 2021 OSAP Dental Infection Control Boot Camp. Read more
March 13–16: “WE” 2021 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition (Virtual). Read more
March 4–6: Pacific Dental Conference – Virtual Experience. Save the date
May 6–8: Ontario Dental Association ASM21 Annual Spring Meeting. Read more
Please let us know about upcoming continuing education meetings that could be of interest to Canadian dentists by emailing us at oasisdiscussions@cda-adc.ca
We invite you to send us leads to news stories worth sharing oasisdiscussions@cda-adc.ca.