News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2021/03/03

COVID-19 vaccines to be made available in Nova Scotia pharmacies. cbc.ca, March 3: Nova Scotia is expanding its COVID-19 vaccination program with prototype clinics in pharmacies, and opening vaccine eligibility to more health-care workers, including dentists and pharmacists. Read more

Federal NDP unveils election-style promises to support small businesses during pandemic. cbc.ca, March 2: ...Singh also said he wants the federal government to provide universal dental care and affordable housing because both measures would help employees working in small businesses. Read more

Le port du masque exigé chez le dentiste. journaldemontreal.com, 3 mars : Un dentiste de Montréal demande au gouvernement de rendre obligatoire la présentation d’une preuve pour profiter d’une exemption médicale afin de ne pas porter de masque dans les lieux fermés. Lire plus

Alberta dentists offer to help with COVID-19 vaccinations. edmontonjournal.com, March 2 (similar articles in Calgary Sun, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Sun): The association that represents almost 2,800 dentists across Alberta says its members are ready and willing to give out COVID-19 vaccines if they are called upon to help. The Alberta Dental Association and College wants the provincial government to consider using dentists in the vaccine deployment plan as more doses arrive. Read more

Study examines occupational risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, transmission risk, and immunity in dental schools across Canada. mcgill.ca, March 2: The Government of Canada is investing approximately $1.4 million through its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF), to support a pan-Canadian study investigating SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, transmission risks, and immune system responses of those working in dental clinics, laboratories, and offices in universities. Led by Dr. Paul Allison of McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry, and with investigators from all ten Canadian dental schools, the study will recruit 800 dental and dental hygiene students and residents, faculty, and support staff from across the country. Read more

Medical professionals needed to administer COVID-19 shots. ottawa.ctvnews.ca, Feb 27: ...Canadian Dental Association deputy CEO Aaron Burry says dentists are ready to step up when they are called on. "Dentists are highly trained. They are very, very excited I think about the opportunity. And depending on the province and the area, they are available and interested in doing it," says Burry. Still there's no word on whether dentists will be called to administer the COVID-19 vaccine on the frontlines, in their own offices or working out of the mass vaccination sites. Read more

HPI poll: Dentists see increased prevalence of stress-related oral health conditions. ada.org, March 2: Monthly survey finds patient volume estimated at 81% of pre-pandemic levels. The vast majority of dentists indicate that the prevalence of stress-related oral health conditions among their respective patients have increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Could rapid COVID-19 tests become the norm at your dentist? thedenverchannel.com, March 2: A California dentist who works with a leading research center for oral biology is advocating for that scenario, calling it a low-cost and efficient method to screen for COVID-19 amid the ongoing pandemic. Read more

New survey finds stress-related dental conditions continue to increase. ada.org, March 2: More than 70 percent of dentists surveyed by the American Dental Association (ADA) Health Policy Institute are seeing an increase of patients experiencing teeth grinding and clenching, conditions often associated with stress. Read more

Health concerns rise as dental patients in South Dakota put off care during pandemic. mitchellrepublic.com, March 2: Experts say those hit hardest by delaying needed dental care include those who have the most difficulty accessing dental care and those most vulnerable to future complications – children, the elderly, minorities and people with disabilities. Read more

As COVID Limits Options, School-Based Dentists Fear Impact On Kids. wskg.org, March 1: Most dentists in New York were able to fully reopen their practices last June, but those who work in school-based health centers are still waiting on state clearance to do the same. Read more

The Hidden Dental Dangers of Lockdown. fortuneherald.com, March 1: ...In line with an increase in eating junk food and sugary snacks, our dental hygiene has been getting poorer. 55% of adults reported neglecting their oral health during the various national lockdowns. Read more

Surge in cancer cases after Covid caused dental care delays. thetimes.co.uk, March 1: Matthew Garrett, the dean of the faculty of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, said that patients were at risk of developing mouth cancer and other serious conditions of the head and neck as early signs were not picked up by dentists. Read more

Dental providers able to give COVID-19 vaccines in Kentucky as demand grows. lex18.com, March 1: ...In January, the Kentucky Board of Dentistry filed an emergency administrative regulation to allow dentists and dental hygienists to administer COVID‑19 vaccines. Craig Miller, a professor with the University of Kentucky's College of Dentistry, says volunteers from the college have already given out more than 1,500 vaccines at the Kroger Field clinic since they started helping in mid-February. Read more

Vaccine, waning COVID numbers motivating locals to return to the dentist. mankatofreepress.com, March 1: After a lull last year with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota dentists say most of their patients are back. Read more

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday. cbc.ca, March 3: COVID-linked deaths in Ontario top 7,000 as record-high number get vaccine shots. In face of deadly pandemic, Ontario long-term care homes continue breaking COVID-19 safety rules. AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and seniors: Where Canada and other countries stand. Saskatchewan to limit debut batch of AstraZeneca doses to people aged 64 and younger. What we know about spacing out COVID-19 vaccine doses. Household bubbles allowed, most businesses can reopen in Manitoba on Friday. Read more

Feds extending COVID-19 wage and rent subsidy until June. ctvnews.ca, March 3: Trudeau said while there have been encouraging signs the economy is rebounding and vaccines continue to roll out, support is still needed. Read more

Canada's COVID-19 cases start to climb as variants spread, in step with dire forecasts. ctvnews.ca, March 3: Canada's chief public health officer says new COVID-19 cases are starting to tick back up after a month-long decline, giving urgency to the question of who should receive doses of the newly approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine due to arrive in Canada Wednesday. Read more

First shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine arrives amid confusion over its use for seniors. ctvnews.ca March 3: ...Canada is to receive 500,000 doses of the vaccine, the third approved for use in Canada, from the Serum Institute of India. But questions about who should receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine continue amid conflicting guidance about its use. Read more

Under 65? Your COVID-19 vaccination may be sooner than you expected. thestar.com, March 2: Provinces have an “opportunity” to vaccinate younger people sooner with the recently approved AstraZeneca vaccine, based on advice from government-appointed experts and the looming expiration date on thousands of doses arriving this week, says Canada’s top public health officer. Read more

Benefits and risks of delaying 2nd doses of COVID-19 vaccine. cbc.ca, March 3: A look at the science behind provinces' plans. Federal and provincial health officials are poring over emerging data on the advantages and disadvantages of extending the time between shots of two-dose COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some of the factors they're weighing and why it matters. Read more

Can a COVID-19 vaccine's second dose be delayed for weeks? What the science says. ctvnews.ca, March 3: Experts say delaying the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine would 'make sense' for Canada amid its slow rollout despite there being limited data about how long protection lasts until a second shot is needed. Read more

'All hands on deck': Slow vaccine rollout in Canada expected to be drag on economic recovery. nationalpost.com, March 3: The pace of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, which has lagged that of many other developed nations, is expected to be drag on the country’s economic recovery in the short-term and may have long-term implications as well, according to economists and business groups monitoring the situation. Read more

Past 'mistreatment' and 'experimentation' at root of some Indigenous people's COVID‑19 vaccine hesitancy. saskatoon.ctvnews.ca, March 2: A new paper published by the Canadian Medical Association journal focuses on medical experimentation and the roots of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Indigenous people. Read more

Why you probably still shouldn't worry about surface transmission of the coronavirus. ctvnews.ca, March 2: The consensus among health experts has been that the public shouldn’t be too worried about catching the virus that causes COVID-19 through surface contact. But with the SARS-CoV-2 variants becoming more widespread, is this still the case? Read more

Where Are Ontario's Vaccines? tvo.org, March 2 [The Agenda with Steve Paikin]: Ontarians are understandably anxious to recieve their COVID-19 vaccinations, but what are the realistic rollout timelines, and what is holding things up? The Agenda welcomes Simon Fraser University's Caroline Colijn; Nick Taylor Vaisey, Maclean's associate editor, and Isaac Bogoch, associate professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto. Listen 28:32

Canada shouldn't use AstraZeneca COVID vaccine on seniors, national panel advises. nationalpost.com, March 2: There are no concerns the vaccine is unsafe for use, but the panel said the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferred for older people due to 'superior efficacy'. Read more

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday. cbc.ca, March 2: Last year was the worst year on record for Canada's economy. Why Canada's pandemic experience has been easier than some. Essential workers should be prioritized for AstraZeneca vaccine, experts suggest. Canada's chief science adviser issues warning about B.C.'s "experiment" with vaccine timing. P.E.I. considering delaying 2nd vaccine dose to speed 1st shot for Islanders. Whitehorse 1st capital city in Canada to open COVID-19 vaccine clinics to all adults. BIPOC Manitobans face disproportionate rates of COVID-19 infection, report finds. Read more

Should we mix-and-match doses from different COVID-19 vaccines? Experts say maybe. nationalpost.com, March 1: Using different vaccines could create a stronger immune response against COVID-19 and its variants, experts say. But it's important to conduct a trial before formulating an official policy. Read more

Ford government wants to push back second dose of COVID-19 vaccines to four months. toronto.ctvnews.ca, March 1: Ontario may push back the administration of second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to four months in an attempt get more shots into the arms of residents. British Columbia announced on Monday that it would push back the administration of second doses following new research suggesting that both vaccines offer protection of at least 90 per cent after just one shot. Read more

Quebec updating vaccine priority list to address younger, vulnerable people. montrealgazette.com, March 2: Countries such as France and the U.K. and some states in the U.S. have raised the vaccine priority for younger people with Down syndrome. Read more

Ontario warns of potential counterfeit N95 masks in provincial stockpile. toronto.ctvnews.ca Feb 26: The Ontario government says it is aware of potential counterfeit N95 masks within the provincial personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile, including some that were distributed to health-care providers. Health system partners were notified of the counterfeit masks in a memo sent on Friday. Read more

Program addresses vaccine hesitancy with jargon-free, non-judgmental expertise. cp24.com, Feb 28: When it comes to vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and mistrust sparked by "medical racism" are among issues confronting scientists, doctors and community groups trying to provide assurance as immunization programs roll out across Canada. Read more

Alcohol sales boom as Canadians cope with COVID-19. globalnews.ca, Feb 28: The pandemic has boosted the business of booze, as more Canadians turn to alcohol to cope with rising levels of depression, loneliness, and anxiety. As Katelyn Wilson reports, the pandemic has fuelled an increase in alcohol abuse. Watch 02:14

Not sure which vaccine to get? You may not have a choice. ctvnews.ca, Feb 26: With a third and fourth COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in Canada, many are wondering whether they can pick and choose which jab they receive. But the choice may not be up to the patient, and experts note you should take whichever vaccine you’re offered first. Read more

The hidden threat to Canada's economic recovery — our mental health. financialpost.com, Feb 26: Kevin Carmichael: If country's workforce is coping with low-grade PTSD, there aren't any simple levers policy-makers can pull. Read more

Overnight Health Care. thehill.com, March 2: Biden says US will have enough vaccine for all adults by end of May | Biden calls on all states to vaccinate teachers by the end of March | Texas, Mississippi lift mask mandates. Read more

Children as young as four months can wear masks without respiratory distress, study suggests. ctvnews.ca, March 3: A small new study out of Italy found that children as young as four months old did not experience any respiratory change as a result of wearing a surgical mask, raising questions about mask advice for young children. Read more

'When will it end?': How a changing virus is reshaping scientists’ views on COVID‑19. reuters.com, March 3: Chris Murray, a University of Washington disease expert whose projections on COVID-19 infections and deaths are closely followed worldwide, is changing his assumptions about the course of the pandemic. Read more

India developer says homegrown COVID-19 vaccine is 81 per cent effective. ctvnews.ca March 3: Indian pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech said Wednesday its domestically developed vaccine, criticised for being rolled out before final trials, was found in interim late-stage data to have almost 81 per cent efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infection. Questions had been raised by Indian medical experts about the effectiveness of Bharat Biotech's "Covaxin" after officials authorised it for emergency use in January even though its Phase 3 trials -- the last stage before regulatory approval -- were not complete. Read more

Live updates: Global coronavirus numbers edging back up after weeks of decline, says WHO. washingtonpost.com, March 2: Covax to deliver 237 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to 142 countries by May. Anthony S. Fauci, on Monday reiterated that the United States will stick to a plan to inoculate tens of millions of Americans with two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s coronavirus vaccines. Read more

Whole towns are refusing COVID-19 vaccines in Mexico. ctvnews.ca, March 2: For Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, vaccinating all Mexicans is a matter of responsible national health policy as well as social justice. … But there are already clear signs that not every Mexican is ready or willing to get a shot in the arm. Read more

CDC signs off on Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. thehill.com, Feb 28: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday formally accepted the recommendation from its advisory panel that Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine can be given to people ages 18 and older in the United States. Read more

One dose of Pfizer vaccine offers significant protection for those who have had COVID‑19: studies. thehill.com, Feb 26: Two new British studies published late Thursday found that a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine may offer significant protection for people who have already been infected with COVID-19. Read more

Countries call on drug companies to share vaccine know-how. ctvnews.ca, March 1: … Pharmaceutical companies that took taxpayer money from the U.S. or Europe to develop inoculations at unprecedented speed say they are negotiating contracts and exclusive licensing deals with producers on a case-by-case basis because they need to protect their intellectual property and ensure safety. Read more

From science to syringe: COVID-19 vaccines are miracles of science and supply chains. ctvnews.ca, Feb 27: A single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine is barely enough to cover the average pinky nail but is made up of more than 280 components and requires at least three manufacturing plants to produce. By the time that dose is injected, it has travelled to at least six different cities in four countries, across the Atlantic Ocean twice, and monitored by a 24-hour watchtower in Iceland every step of the way. Read more

165 people died of an illicit drug overdose in B.C. in January, coroner reports. cbc.ca, March 2: The figure represents an increase of 104 per cent from the number of deaths in the same month last year, and a seven per cent increase over the number of deaths in December 2020. It also equates to more than five deaths every day of the month. Read more

$3.5M in funding for ‘vending machines’ that dispense safer drugs to prevent ODs. nationalnewswatch.com, March 2: ...MySafe allows participants to access a safer drug without fear, shame and stigma, and without contact with anyone, which is all the more essential during the pandemic. Read more

LETTER: Why didn’t Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal MPs back pharmacare bill? theguardian.pe.ca, March 1 [by Edward Sawdon]: Sadly and unfortunately, the minority Trudeau Liberal government killed Bill 213, the Canada Pharmacare Act on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The federal Liberals voted no after decades of them promising Canadians support for a national pharmacare program. … Yes, our federal and provincial/territorial governments should take a more holistic approach in making pharmacare and dental care part of the Canadian public medicare system. Read more

New Westminster-Burnaby MP not giving up on public universal pharmacare program. newwestrecord.ca, March 1: New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian is vowing to continue fighting for a national pharmacare program. … “Things didn’t go the way Canadians hoped,” Julian later told the Record. “Support for public universal pharmacare is 88% across the country; replicated in our communities. There is absolutely no doubt that the vast majority of Canadians support this.” Read more

Flavoured vape, e-cigarette products now banned on P.E.I. cbc.ca, March 1: …The regulation changes are part of a private members bill from PC MLA Cory Deagle, which received unanimous support from the legislature in 2019. … "This is probably one of the biggest steps that we're going to see trying to get rid of, or at least reduce, the amount of youth that are vaping." Read more

Access to life-saving overdose medication still limited in Sask. thestarphoenix.com, Feb 27: ...The government has described its take-home naloxone kit program as an important intervention to prevent tragedies, but advocates charge that access to the life-saving drug is still far too limited. More than 100 pharmacies in the province carry naloxone, but only a handful are part of the take-home program that lets them offer the kits for free. The program is covered by the federal health plan for First Nations and Inuit people with treaty status. Saskatchewan residents otherwise have to pay out of pocket. Read more

Canadian Medical Association elects first Indigenous president. cbc.ca, Feb 26: Dr. Alika Lafontaine, an anesthesiologist in Grande Prairie, AB, will begin his tenure in August 2022. … Lafontaine is from Treaty 4 Territory in southern Saskatchewan, and is of Cree, Anishinaabe, Metis and Pacific Islander ancestry. His nomination comes as the health care sector in Canada grapples with issues of inequity, including racism. Read more

‘Life of neglect’: Hundreds of thousands of ‘desperate’ Aussies with rotting teeth can’t afford essential dental care. 7news.com.au, March 3: A petition begging the government to subsidise essential dental treatments for those who can’t afford it has reached more than 8000 signatures. Dental treatment isn’t covered by Medicare, meaning many Australians have to smile through the pain, literally Experts estimate Australians who can’t afford dental treatment number in the hundreds of thousands. Read more

Michigan woman says her soda addiction caused her to lose all her top teeth. nypost.com March 3: Victoria Irene Nowakowski has warned others to maintain their dental health after her own chompers decayed to yellow nubs following years of drinking soda every day and smoking cigarettes. “Dental hygiene is really and extremely important,” Nowakowski said in a series of TikTok videos. Read more

NAD Finds One American Association of Orthodontists Video Puffery; Recommends Discontinuation of Unsupported Implied Claims About Competitor's Platform. prnewswire.com, March 2: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) supported its implied claim that SmileDirectClub, LLC's retail stores lack on-site medical professionals. However, NAD has recommended that AAO discontinue implied claims, and certain videos containing such claims, that SmileDirectClub's direct-to-consumer: Teledentistry platform is risky, dangerous and ineffective, and that medical professionals are not involved throughout SmileDirectClub's treatment process. At-home dentistry kit is difficult to use. Aligner product is ineffective. ... In its advertiser statement, AAO stated that although it "respectfully disagrees with many of NAD's conclusions, AAO will comply with the NAD's recommendations." Read more

Aged Care Commissioners recommend key ADA recommendations in report. ada.org.au, March 2: The Royal Aged Care Commissioners have included a number of key Australian Dental Association (ADA) recommendations for dramatically overhauling the delivery of oral health care in their final report released by the government yesterday. It’s now incumbent on the Morrison administration to act on these vital reforms to overhaul the delivery of dental services to older Australians. Read more

School-based dental program reduces cavities by more than 50%. eurekalert.org, March 1: Study of nearly 7,000 elementary school students demonstrates success of school-based model and its potential to reduce health disparities and save federal dollars. Read more

U.S. FTC tells e-cigarette firms JUUL, NJOY, others to submit sales, ad data. financialpost.com, March 1: …The consumer protection agency is trying to better understand the rapidly growing market, similar to studies it has done in the on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Read more

A rating system, free dental care and no restraints: Key findings. sml.com.au, March 1: After almost two and a half years the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has delivered an exhaustive, 2800-page report containing 148 recommendations. Read more

Too many families face barriers to good dental care. We need solutions now. pnj.com, Feb 28 [by Dr. Andrew Brown, president of the Florida Dental Association]: … Recognizing that there are the barriers to care, particularly for those who live in rural or underserved areas or those who are disabled or medically compromised, the Florida Dental Association is urging funding for two key initiatives that can be implemented to get immediate care to those in need. Read more

Dental therapists can help expand access to care. gainsville.com, March 1 [Opinion]: It can be a real challenge for Floridians to access dental care. Many don’t have the means to travel to a dentist. Many more live in areas where there’s a severe dentist shortage. We need to expand access and cut costs for dental care. Dental therapists can help. 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

March 4-6: Pacific Dental Conference – 2021 Virtual Experience. Read more and register

March 13-16: “WE” 2021 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition (Virtual). Read more

May 6-8: 2021 Ontario Dental Association Annual Spring Meeting (ASM21)  Read more

April 12-17: The New World of Dentistry 2021. Manitoba Dental Association co-hosts the new national 2021 Virtual Dental Convention with the Canadian Dental Association. Read more

June 10-11: Atlantic Virtual Dental Convention. 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