No, ‘measles parties’ aren’t a good idea
With 146 cases and one child dead, a warning to avoid 'measles parties' has been issued in response to social media chatter amid the Texas outbreak.
Why it's important: Ontario is also in the midst of its largest measles outbreak in 30 years, with over 140 cases this year, so far. The province’s population is half that of Texas. Vaccine coverage for Ontario children is currently reported at 70 per cent, and many adults who think they’re immune may not be.
U.S. Health Secretary RFK Jr. has downplayed the outbreak, spreading falsehoods about hospitalizations. In an abrupt turn yesterday, he wrote, “MMR vaccine is crucial to avoiding potentially deadly disease,” in an op-ed, but went on to say the decision to vaccinate is “personal.” Several prominent anti-vax activists were irked by his comments.
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Leadership hopefuls call for accountability in provinces’ health spending
Liberal leadership candidates pledged last week to hold provinces accountable for how they spend federal health transfers.
Why it matters: Regardless of who becomes the next Liberal leader (and Prime Minister), a major tone-shift is underway with respect to federal health funding. The federal government is set to transfer $200 billion to provinces over ten years.
“When it comes to health transfers, we need greater accountability from provinces, not to the federal government but to their own citizens,” said leadership candidate Karina Gould. “We have no way of knowing how that money is spent.” All candidates have expressed alignment with Gould’s comments, echoing last year's calls from the Canadian Medical Association for accountability in health-care spending.
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Corporate dentistry is reshaping Canada’s dental clinics, quietly
As dental corporations buy up practices across Canada, patients might not realize their clinic has changed hands.
Why it's important: Major players in this space such as 123Dentist and Dentalcorp now own hundreds of practices. When a clinic is absorbed, its name and branding are usually retained, but staff are pushed to increase visit frequency and upsell treatments.
The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario is aware that corporate ownership can lead to unnecessary treatments and fraudulent billing. Roughly 6% of Canadian dental practices are currently corporate-owned, with that figure set to grow.
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Manitoba strikes 1st pharmacare deal with federal government
Manitoba will receive $219M over four years to provide universal coverage for diabetes medications, contraceptives, and other medical supplies.
Why it's important: Manitoba is the first province to sign on to Ottawa’s pharmacare plan. This sets the stage for a national program, if other provinces opt-in (that's a pretty big “if” in some cases). One down, 12 to go.
The deal eliminates deductibles for diabetes drugs and contraceptives, making these fully covered. While the federal NDP pushes for a faster rollout, insurance industry groups say the plan will limit private insurance options, warning of downstream negative impacts.
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Ontario nurses warn unsafe patient loads are putting people at risk
Internal hospital safety reports from nurses describe dangerous patient ratios — up to 10 patients per nurse — far above limits set elsewhere.
Why it's important: High nurse-to-patient ratios increase mortality and burnout, yet Ontario has no mandated limit. The government of B.C. announced ratio caps in 2023. But severe staffing shortages have stalled implementation.
Nurses’ reports describe patients in hallways, delayed medications, violent incidents and preventable falls. Records show their concerns are routinely dismissed by management, and a proposed 1:4 ratio was voted down by the Ontario government. Nurses say the lack of mandated ratios is a key driver of turnover and the profession’s high attrition-rate.
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Trump regime might pull funding for Moderna’s bird flu vaccine
U.S. officials are reviewing a $590 million funding deal with Moderna for its mRNA bird flu vaccine. Moderna’s stock dropped sharply with the news.
Why it's important: Historically, egg-based flu vaccines have faced production bottlenecks, making mRNA attractive. Moderna’s vaccine is nearing late-stage trials, but its future is uncertain.
An HHS spokesperson said the funding review is needed due to "four years of the Biden administration's failed oversight." Key figures in Trump’s orbit, namely RFK Jr. and Jay Bhattacharya, have been staunch opponents of mRNA vaccines. If funding is pulled and diverted to a non-mRNA vaccine-maker, Novavax and GSK might be best-positioned to benefit, as their production methods circumvent the need for eggs. That is, if another vaccine is selected.
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