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Ever wonder how safe the water is in your kids’ school? Or why we don’t have a Lyme disease vaccine for humans? This week’s edition is packed with some pretty eye-opening stories. Here’s the news that hit hardest for me this week:

 

Regulator's independence in question amid Shoppers Drug Mart controversy

The Ontario College of Pharmacists has pressured board member Siva Sivapalan to step down after he joined a lawsuit against Shoppers Drug Mart.

Why it's important: Referencing leaked correspondence between the embattled board member and the Pharmacists’ College, the Globe’s reporting reveals a troubling dynamic within the OCP.

Initially, the College supported Sivapalan’s participation in a class-action lawsuit against Shoppers Drug Mart over the MedsChecks scandal. However, after the OCP met with representatives from Loblaw, their stance shifted abruptly. Sivapalan now faces pressure to resign under allegations of a conflict of interest, which he denies. Despite this, he’s facing censure while at least one other board member with ties to Shoppers isn’t receiving such scrutiny. A Loblaws spokesperson told the Globe, "We have only asked that he be recused (or recuse himself) from anything related to Shoppers’ business."
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Ontario axing wastewater surveillance program, baffling experts

Ontario is shutting down its widely-praised wastewater surveillance program, alarming virology and epidemiology researchers and public health officials.

Why it's important: A planned federal replacement program is in the works, but is skeletal in comparison, focusing on major cities and lacking the provincial program's insights into rural areas and vulnerable populations.

The Ontario wastewater surveillance initiative tested samples at 58 sites across the province, tracking COVID, flu, mpox, and RSV. It can also be retooled to track other pathogens, including H5N1. Program data has enabled targeted public health interventions in hotspots and prevented hospitalizations. Experts say the loss of this robust, real-time monitoring system leaves Ontario poorly equipped to detect and respond to existing and emerging threats. In its quest to avoid duplication with a stripped-back federal program, the province is set to sacrifice a low-cost early warning system that advanced our scientific understanding of epidemiology and viral genetics.
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Liberals table bill mandating health data interoperability

The federal government tabled legislation to streamline health data across Canada, mandating interoperability of medical records and preventing data blocking by tech companies.

Why it's important: The bill requires companies to make medical records software interoperable, meaning patients and care providers can securely access and exchange data across systems and jurisdictions.

The initiative follows new 10-year health accords in which all provinces agreed to digitize their health data. Experts say improved data integration will improve patient outcomes, significantly reduce costs, and enable the integration of AI for advanced clinical research. Mark Holland had harsh words for vendors who engage in data blocking. “It's wonderful that they're making extraordinary profit by being involved in life sciences. But the data that they're gleaning is often being paid for by public funds,” Holland told the Canadian Press.
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Dogs get vaccinated for Lyme Disease. Why don’t we?

Lyme cases in Canada are on the rise due to climate shifts and disruptions, making the absence of a vaccine a growing problem.
 

Why it's important: There is no available human vaccine for Lyme disease, though once upon a time, one did exist.

The only available vaccine was withdrawn in 2002 due to low sales and negative publicity driven by antivax sentiments and claims of adverse reactions, though thorough reviews and investigations found no evidence to support them. Efforts are now underway to make a new vaccine, with phase 3 trials in progress. The new vaccine will require boosters to maintain its efficacy, though the interval between shots isn’t yet known. Clear communication will be needed with respect to the fact that when the vaccine eventually does arrive, it won’t be a one-and-done sort of deal.
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Half of Ontario public schools have water with alarming levels of lead

48% of Ontario public schools have drinking water exceeding federal safety guidelines for lead, potentially exposing over 800,000 students to the potent neurotoxin.
 

Why it's important: Recent research links lead exposure in youth to lifelong developmental disabilities and loss of IQ points on a staggering global scale.

Despite Health Canada lowering its maximum acceptable lead level in 2017 to align with WHO guidance, Ontario (as well as New Brunswick and Saskatchewan) still uses a looser threshold of 10 ppb, masking the scale of the problem. Some schools and daycares have logged lead readings up to 30 times the federal limit. Ontario-based readers: results for any school or daycare are searchable here.
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CO2's role in virus survival upends ventilation dogma

New research suggests higher ambient CO2 levels extend the biological lifespan of airborne viruses.

Why it's important: CO2 has long served as a proxy metric for assessing indoor air quality, the idea being that the more CO2 there is in a given space, the more viral particles there are too. They were linked, but now the known relationship between the two variables (CO2 and viruses) has an element of causation.

Recent studies from the University of Bristol show that CO2 does more than indicate poor ventilation; it actively prolongs the survival of airborne viruses. Current ventilation standards, which consider indoor CO2 levels up to 800 ppm as acceptable, may be in need of revision.
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And that's a wrap,

I hope you found this week’s stories as interesting as I did. The world of health news is always evolving, and staying informed can be a heavy lift. We strive to bring you the most important stories every day and week, helping you stay ahead of the curve.
If you're new here, welcome! Be sure to tune in next week.

Yours in health,

Nick Tsergas
National Health News Editor
Canada Healthwatch 
[email protected] | canadahealthwatch.ca