'It's not over until it's over,' Ontario doctor urges people to get fully vaccinated
The introduction of numerous COVID-19 variants has increased the potential for a fourth wave; still, one Alliston, Ont., doctor says it's not necessarily a "material worry" given the availability of vaccines.
Stevenson Memorial Hospital's chief of staff, Dr. Barry Nathanson, who is also a critical care specialist at Southlake Hospital in Newmarket, believes that if another wave were to occur, those who are fully vaccinated would be protected.
"A fourth wave would be amongst those who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, but most worry would be for those who have by that time have chosen not to be vaccinated," says the Alliston hospital physician.
"The vaccines protect us from a fourth wave that we have seen in one, two, and three. It would be mild except for those who are unvaccinated," he says.
So far in Simcoe Muskoka, 66 per cent of the population have received one dose, while nearly 80 per cent of adults in Ontario have rolled up their sleeves at least once, but Dr. Nathanson says having that one dose isn't going to cut it.
"We need to get many more people doubly and fully vaccinated," says Dr. Nathanson. "That's where the protection lies, and until then, none of us can rest."
As cases continue to drop to levels not seen since last August, Dr. Nathanson says he continues to watch for the emergence of variants, including variants of interests Epsilon and Lambda.
However, the one thing concerning the doctor - if it were to happen - is the idea of an acute or serious illness in someone who is fully vaccinated needing hospitalization.
"We're holding the ground with vaccinations against the variants as they emerge, and it's not over until it's over," he says.
"The big worry is that we will see some breakthrough, but on the other hand, we haven't see seen it yet, and the answer to our problems remains increased vaccination," Dr. Nathanson concludes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.