Opinion

Enough with the harassment: How to deal with anti-vax cults

The anti-vaxxers who protested outside of my own home because I'm a medical officer of health demonstrate cultish behaviour. Here's how we counter them.

Opinion
by Joe Vipond Malgorzata (Gosia) Gasperowicz Wing Kar Li Michelle Brandenburg

Alberta government’s failure means we must protect ourselves

The Alberta government has given up on protecting us from COVID-19. But even though our government may no longer care about us, we can still care about each other. Here are ten tips on how to stay safe.

Opinion
by Sophia Ikura Lydia-Joi Marshall Nolan D’Souza

Fear of the unknown: Parents want information and transparency when deciding to vaccinate their children

Through interviews and focus groups held with parents of kids 5 to 11 years old, Health Commons Solutions Lab learned about their motivations, beliefs and questions when it comes to vaccinating their kids – and what resources they need.

Opinion
by Jeremy Cygler

Family member’s undiagnosed illness gives physician new patient perspective

When patients have strange, unidentified illnesses, physicians often focus more on finding a diagnosis than managing symptoms. When a close family member struggled with such an illness, I saw the importance of addressing patient suffering earlier on.

Opinion
by Will Falk

Twenty years of talk is enough: Digital tools like e-prescribing must become a core part of our health-care system

When the pandemic started and social distancing necessitated a switch to virtual care almost overnight, our digital health-care system struggled and sometimes failed entirely. This broken system must end now. Here's how we can fix it.

Article
by Anne Borden King

‘Focus on the tooth and the person’: The movement for trauma-informed dentistry

People joke that they don't like going to the dentist, but for some, a trip to the dentist can actually trigger past traumas. The trauma-informed dentistry movement is trying to make dentists' offices places where vulnerable patients feel safe.

In Case You Missed It

In June 2021, five doctors and scientists debated an idea that is once again the subject of intense dispute: that schools should never be closed as a means of limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Video

The COVID Debates: Should schools be closed to stop the spread of COVID-19?

Debate
Posted: Jan 4, 2022

Debate: Be it resolved that school closures should never be used to stop the spread of COVID-19

In June 2021, Ari Bitnun, Andrew Morris, Jennifer Grant, Colin Furness, and Martha Fulford debated a notion that has once again become the subject of intense dispute as Canada sees a huge spike in COVID-19 cases: whether schools should never be closed as a means of limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Yes
VS
No
Timeline
by Ari Bitnun

Ari Bitnun

We should never have closed schools because there is no compelling reason to do so. Not only are children at very low risk of developing severe COVID-19, but schools are also not significant sites of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

by Andrew Morris

Andrew Morris

We should not rule out school closures, since even though the short-term consequences of COVID-19 on children generally appear to be mild, they are not always benign – and no-one even knows what the long-term effects are. Furthermore, transmission does occur within schools, which can endanger not only schoolchildren but the broader community.

See full debate
Latest articles
 

In Their Own Words

Throughout this pandemic, we have heard from health professionals, scientists, politicians, media personalities and private citizens, but there is one group whose perspectives have not been sought: our youth.

That’s why we’re launching a brand-new series, “In Their Own Words.” Through essays, poetry, and art, youth from various communities express what the pandemic has been like for them. It is imperative that we understand their needs so we can foster positive environments for their growth now and in the future.

Special Series

In Their Own Words

In Their Own Words is a new series to share and amplify the reflections by Canadian youth on the pandemic.

In Their Own Words
by Keren Vince

Who knew

Who knew I would miss the simple smile of a stranger walking by me at the grocery store. Who knew I would miss that snarky side-eye by a random person judging me as I walked past them at the mall. Who knew I would miss those little kids who would stick their tongues out at me and giggle. I didn’t.

In Their Own Words
by Mackenzie Campbell

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It’s been over 500 days since I held someone and not just someone; anyone / this world filled with change / and I'm having a hard time catching up / faces behind masks hiding away from the pain of our reality yet we grow older / grow bolder / and grow in our separate ways without growing apart

In Their Own Words
by Sean Chen

Passing seasons

While news reports blared the newest case counts and the lives lost, I was trying to gain traction in the ever-deteriorating and demanding world of online learning. From “you’re muted” to “sorry, my wifi cut out,” I realized that this was the new “normal.” With no recovery in sight, I realized the things I missed the most, were the ones I cherished the least.

Special Series Highlights

Special Series

Understanding the Learning Health System

The vital partnership between research, community and clinical operations is the hallmark of the learning health system. In this series, we explore the fundamentals of a learning health system as well as several examples of learning health systems in action.

Special Series

Without Compassion, There Is No Health Care

In partnership with AMS Healthcare, Healthy Debate is publishing a series of seven articles that explores the relationship between technology and compassion in the field of health care today, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Special Series

Pillars of the Pandemic

Pillars of the Pandemic is a new series honouring outstanding individuals who have made huge contributions to our fight against the pandemic.