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Victoria Health Centre
416-694-1400
victoriahealthctr@gmail.com
January 5, 2021
Answering Patient Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines
Dear Patients,
2020 has brought such fear and changes to the way we live our lives. But as 2021 dawns, there is hope – vaccines are on their way.
As you all know, the first vaccines are being given to higher-risk people and healthcare workers. But we look forward to when you all will have access to the vaccine. We do not yet know the place or the timing and I will communicate this when we do.
Some questions have arisen that we wanted to answer at this stage – please see below, and you can find more detail here.
Appropriate steps taken – The vaccines were developed was so fast because it was a top priority for everyone in the field and billions of dollars from governments and companies around the world were spent on getting it developed. The scientific world cooperated in ways they had not before. The bureaucratic process was super-fast because of the importance of getting this through.
New technology – mRNA has been used for cancer treatments for upwards of 30 years, but this is the first vaccine using the technology. There are two vaccines made this way (Pfizer and Moderna) and another one (Oxford) that is coming later is made with an older technology (like the effective Ebola vaccine). More information is available here.
Effectiveness – In clinical studies, very few people got COVID-19 within 12 days of getting the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. This result is similar to the Moderna vaccine, which is the other COVID-19 vaccine now approved for use in Canada.
Allergies – People with allergies to any of the ingredients in the vaccine should not receive it. We will discuss any serious allergies or other health conditions you may have before you receive the vaccine.
Pregnancy and children less than 16 years old – None of the vaccine trials included these populations, so at this time the vaccine is not recommended routinely for these groups. For pregnant or breastfeeding individuals who are at high risk of infection and/or morbidity from COVID-19, the various national societies for obstetricians have stated that “the documented risk of not getting the COVID-19 vaccine outweighs the theorized and undescribed risk of being vaccinated during pregnancy or while breastfeeding and vaccination should be offered.”
Our office has remained accessible to you, by phone, by video or in person as it was deemed necessary. We thank you for your understanding as we help you in your health in these different ways.
Thank you all for what you have done to keep yourselves, your loved ones, and your communities safe. Thank you to those frontline workers who have faced fears and yet continued to provide the services that we have needed to function.
We look forward to when the vaccine allows us to return to a life that is more connected. In the meantime –
Wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands.
AND be calm, be safe, be kind.
Warmly,
Your VHC doctors,
Dr Tasneem Kassam, Dr Doug Ledger, Dr Jennifer McDonald, Dr Jackie Ringnalda, and Dr Morris Rotbard
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News Alerts:
2020 has brought such fear and changes to the way we live our lives. But as 2021 dawns, there is hope – vaccines are on their way. As you all know, the first vaccines are being given to higher-risk people and healthcare workers. But we look forward to when you all will have access to the vaccine. We do not yet know the place or the timing and I will communicate this when we do.
Read MoreWith the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the on-going risks, we have decided (and have been strongly encouraged by the Ontario Medical Association) to move the bulk of our appointments in the up-coming weeks to telephone appointments. If you already have an appointment scheduled, our staff will be calling you the day before and will give you the option of rescheduling or to make a telephone appointment instead.
Read MoreWe strongly recommend getting the flu shot every October or November to prevent influenza and its serious complications. Those at most risk are children and adults (including pregnant women) with chronic medical conditions, such as cancer, cardiac disorders, asthma, and morbid obesity (people with a body mass index greater than 40); residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities; people 65 years of age and older; healthy children 6 months to 5 years of age; aboriginal peoples; and healthy pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy. Please call our office to book an appointment for your flu shot.
Cervical cancer screening is recommended every three years for all women starting
at age 21 who are or ever have been sexually active, if they have never had an abnormal
Pap test. Sexual activity includes intercourse, as well as digital or oral sexual
activity involving the genital area with a partner of either gender. Women, who
are not sexually active by 21 years of age, should delay cervical cancer screening
until sexually active. Regardless of sexual history, there is no evidence to support
screening women under 21 years of age. Based on the latest clinical evidence, cervical
cancer screening every three years is effective. Pap tests can stop at age 70 in
women who have had three or more normal tests in the prior 10 years.
However, if you have been treated for an abnormal Pap test in the past, these
guidelines do not apply. Annual pap testing is still recommended for those treated
for an abnormal test in the past. Please discuss with your physician if you are
unsure about the screening interval which is best for you.
As part of our efforts to contain health costs, we will be offering annual health
screening to all our healthy adults age 18-64. This may mean you will not require
a complete head-to-toe examination with routine testing, although we will discuss
your health concerns, health maintenance strategies, and offer proven cancer screening
tests (in line with Cancer Care Ontario guidelines), as well as screen for cardiovascular
disease if indicated. Healthy patients with no chronic disease may choose a longer
screening interval than annually, in conjunction with their family physician. All
patients with chronic disease and those 65 years old and older should have an annual
exam. We strongly encourage those 50 to 64 years of age to have an annual or at
minimum biannual health screening exam. 16 and 17 year olds should have a screening
exam as well, especially those considering going off to college/university.
Ontario has added to the vaccine schedule for infants and children as well as adults. The new Rotavirus oral vaccine for infants between 6 and 24 weeks age, a second dose of chickenpox vaccine for children aged 1-11, and a whooping cough booster vaccine for adults age 19-64 is available. Please speak to us at your next office visit.
As of Nov. 1st, 2011, all Ontarians are required by law to provide identification to their health care provider in order to receive a prescription narcotic or controlled substance medication. You will need to provide the same identification to the pharmacist in order to pick up the medication.
Victoria Health Centre
416-694-1400
victoriahealthctr@gmail.com
March 16, 2020
To our valued patients:
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the on-going risks, we have decided (and have been strongly encouraged by the Ontario Medical Association) to move the bulk of our appointments in the up-coming weeks to telephone appointments. If you already have an appointment scheduled, our staff will be calling you the day before and will give you the option of rescheduling or to make a telephone appointment instead. For any urgent matters that cannot be managed remotely, we will see you in clinic. At this time, we are delaying non urgent visits such as physicals, pap tests and well baby visits (well baby visits will be reviewed in the next few weeks) to limit everyone’s exposure and risk. We will be managing your care remotely and can, for the present time only, send any needed copies of requisitions or results via email. Please call your pharmacist and ask them to fax us any of your prescriptions that require renewal.
Finally, we have had numerous inquiries re: COVID-19 testing. As this is a changing situation, we can tell you what is currently happening at this moment. Please note that currently our office does not have the testing kits available. Fortunately, centralized COVID-19 testing sites have been set up in Toronto. Our local ones are:
1. Michael Garron Hospital (formerly Toronto East General Hospital), by appointment only: www.tehn.ca/programs-services/covid-19-assessment-centre
2. Scarborough Health Network Birchmount Hospital: www.shn.ca
3. North York General Hospital: www.nygh.on.ca/covid-19-updates
Finally, Health Canada has published their latest advisory statements, including avoiding all non-essential travel out of Canada until further notice, and required self-isolation for 14 days for those who return from any international travel. Information can be found at their website: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html If you are in self-isolation and have a health concern, please do not drop into our clinic! Please phone us with your concern. An excellent resource with links to COVID testing sites, criteria for COVID testing, self isolation and social distancing info is virusfacts.ca Here is another link to a great resource from Public Health Ontario that answers many questions about the COVID-19 situation at the present time: www.publichealthontario.ca/en/laboratory-services/test-information-index/wuhan-novel-coronavirus
We hope everyone stays well and healthy during these unprecedented times. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.
Your VHC doctors,
Dr Tasneem Kassam, Dr Doug Ledger, Dr Jennifer McDonald, Dr Jackie Ringnalda, and Dr Morris Rotbard
Victoria Health Centre
416-694-1400
victoriahealthctr@gmail.com
January 5, 2021
Answering Patient Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines
Dear Patients,
2020 has brought such fear and changes to the way we live our lives. But as 2021 dawns, there is hope – vaccines are on their way.
As you all know, the first vaccines are being given to higher-risk people and healthcare workers. But we look forward to when you all will have access to the vaccine. We do not yet know the place or the timing and I will communicate this when we do.
Some questions have arisen that we wanted to answer at this stage – please see below, and you can find more detail here.
Appropriate steps taken – The vaccines were developed was so fast because it was a top priority for everyone in the field and billions of dollars from governments and companies around the world were spent on getting it developed. The scientific world cooperated in ways they had not before. The bureaucratic process was super-fast because of the importance of getting this through.
New technology – mRNA has been used for cancer treatments for upwards of 30 years, but this is the first vaccine using the technology. There are two vaccines made this way (Pfizer and Moderna) and another one (Oxford) that is coming later is made with an older technology (like the effective Ebola vaccine). More information is available here.
Effectiveness – In clinical studies, very few people got COVID-19 within 12 days of getting the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. This result is similar to the Moderna vaccine, which is the other COVID-19 vaccine now approved for use in Canada.
Allergies – People with allergies to any of the ingredients in the vaccine should not receive it. We will discuss any serious allergies or other health conditions you may have before you receive the vaccine.
Pregnancy and children less than 16 years old – None of the vaccine trials included these populations, so at this time the vaccine is not recommended routinely for these groups. For pregnant or breastfeeding individuals who are at high risk of infection and/or morbidity from COVID-19, the various national societies for obstetricians have stated that “the documented risk of not getting the COVID-19 vaccine outweighs the theorized and undescribed risk of being vaccinated during pregnancy or while breastfeeding and vaccination should be offered.”
Our office has remained accessible to you, by phone, by video or in person as it was deemed necessary. We thank you for your understanding as we help you in your health in these different ways.
Thank you all for what you have done to keep yourselves, your loved ones, and your communities safe. Thank you to those frontline workers who have faced fears and yet continued to provide the services that we have needed to function.
We look forward to when the vaccine allows us to return to a life that is more connected. In the meantime –
Wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands.
AND be calm, be safe, be kind.
Warmly,
Your VHC doctors,
Dr Tasneem Kassam, Dr Doug Ledger, Dr Jennifer McDonald, Dr Jackie Ringnalda, and Dr Morris Rotbard