Liberals vow to fight healthcare privatization — is that in their platform?
Health Minister Kamal Khera and Liberal candidate Mike Hanrahan say a Carney government will crack down on privatization by enforcing the Canada Health Act.
Why it's important: Though the party’s platform language is softer than candidates’ remarks, the answer appears to be “yes.”
The Liberal platform commits to defending universal public health care, but Khera’s comments in Bradford made enforcement explicit. Hanrahan reinforced this, accusing the Ontario government of misappropriating federal health dollars. Their remarks portend toothier federal enforcement of the Canada Health Act — a likely pain point for some premiers should the Liberals win. I reached out to both the Ministry of Health and the Liberal Party for clarification this week. Neither commented.
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Measles could become endemic in the U.S., Canada may not be far behind
Modeling predicts measles will regain a permanent foothold in the U.S. within 25 years.
Why it’s important: In Ontario, more than 1,000 cases have been reported this year, forcing transplant patients and cancer survivors into isolation. A future with millions of cases would be unfathomably disruptive for the millions of people who cannot receive a live measles vaccine — and their families.
The model predicts U.S. endemicity without a sharp turnaround in vaccination rates. Unlikely, to say the least. Advocates say vaccines alone won't be enough to contain outbreaks, urging action to clean indoor air in schools, buses, and public spaces to limit airborne spread. Measles is so infectious that even a tiny drop in vaccine uptake can trigger major outbreaks.
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Experts say Canada must move quickly to protect our health data from Trump
Canadian health data — prized for its genetic diversity and comprehensiveness — may be vulnerable to U.S. seizure at the hands of the Trump regime.
Why it’s important: Researchers and privacy lawyers say Canada's reliance on U.S. cloud providers puts patient records at risk, even if data is stored inside Canada.
With Trump vowing to dominate AI, and an absence of legal guardrails, experts are urging Canada to write new privacy laws, block foreign court orders, and invest in domestic data infrastructure before it's too late. There’s also a whole other layer to this issue which I wrote about a couple of months ago.
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Studies find clues to persistent Lyme symptoms, and a potential new treatment
Mouse studies show bacterial debris from Lyme infections can linger in tissues, aggravating the immune system — similar to what’s seen in long COVID patients.
Why it’s important: The research challenges established assumptions that Lyme fully clears after antibiotics and highlights the urgent need for better treatments.
Scientists also screened 500 antibiotics and found piperacillin, a penicillin relative, could offer a safer alternative to doxycycline. These findings point to a mechanism behind patient reports of chronic symptoms and could reshape understanding of why some infections leave us with lasting illness.
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RFK Jr. moves to override CDC scientists on childhood COVID vaccines
U.S. Health Secretary RFK Jr. wants to pull the COVID vaccine from the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule, in a break with agency scientists and outside experts.
Why it’s important: Stripping COVID from the schedule (as recommended by RFK’s colleague Jay Bhattacharya in the Alberta COVID-response report) will further erode public trust in the practice of immunization.
Kennedy says the COVID vaccine isn’t needed for healthy children, despite the CDC’s unanimous 2022 recommendation. New research shows unvaccinated kids face up to 20 times higher risk of long COVID. Pediatricians warn the move could embolden wider attacks on routine immunizations, deepening public distrust as measles and other preventable diseases resurge.
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Mysteriously, FDA demands costly new trial for Novavax COVID vaccine
The U.S. is requiring Novavax to run another clinical trial for full COVID vaccine approval — the shot is already authorized in dozens of countries.
Why it’s important: Novavax’s vaccine showed 90% efficacy in a trial of 30,000 people, but after intervention by RFK Jr. appointees, the FDA stalled approval, demanding more data.
This will likely cost Novavax tens of millions of dollars, which is a major hit for a company that only narrowly avoided bankruptcy last year. Meanwhile, Canada cancelled its long-delayed Novavax deal last month after the company missed its regulatory deadline — they probably regret that now.
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