Vaccines key to controlling surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations
With intensive care units (ICU) reaching a breaking point in Alberta, an Alliston-based physician says he supports the province's move to help.
While making a separate announcement in Tweed Friday afternoon, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott confirmed the province will provide assistance to Alberta as it sees a surge in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Dr. Barry Nathanson, the chief of staff at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, says this is the right move.
"Alberta is going through something that was without meaning to be hurtful entirely predictable and could have been planned for and avoided," Nathanson says to CTV News.
The province lifted most of its public health measures earlier this summer, something many physicians say laid the groundwork for the current surge in hospitalizations. Nathanson says there are lessons to learn from what the province is going through.
"We can see that when we underestimate the capacity of the COVID-19 virus…when we underestimate its capacity to leverage human behaviour to transmit itself and spread, it will take advantage of that," Nathanson says. "It leverages human behaviour, our social contacts, to spread itself, and to not only multiply but to also evolve. Alberta has given it the chance to do that."
Dr. Nathanson says the number of Ontarians who have chosen to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has played a pivotal role in controlling hospitalizations here. The Stevenson Memorial chief of staff also notes its key that the Ford government has remained cautious throughout the summer months.
"Ontario, in contrast to other jurisdictions, has maintained much of its guard politically, socially, through the summer, not declared a free-for-all, and we are reaping the rewards of that caution that we've maintained over the summer and now into the fall," Nathanson says.
At Stevenson Memorial, Nathanson says a majority of admitted COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated. While many express regrets over not getting a COVID-19 vaccine once their symptoms worsen, Nathanson says some remain steadfast in their decision, relying on misinformation spreading online.
"We're hearing, and we're seeing statements that they are unwilling, and we're seeing attitudes amongst those people that are not all that appreciative of the efforts of health care workers today and over the past 18 and more months," Nathanson says.
However, with most Ontarians fully vaccinated against the virus, Nathanson says the situation the province faces would be much worse if vaccines were not available.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.