CCBI Resources for Covid-19 – April 1, 2021
Dear Friends of CCBI, We are beginning the Sacred Triduum, realizing there is nothing more…
CCBI Resources for Covid-19 – June 7, 2021
Dear Friends of CCBI,
Several months ago when the ‘third wave’ was predicted, the threat of a circulating variant was realized and the numbers contracting that type of COVID-19 increased. The growing numbers of people vaccinated at least with a first dose saw the numbers decrease substantially, and that afforded much needed hope. At risk of being a ‘Cassandra,’ it seems we should be paying close attention to the news about yet another lethal variant that is showing up in Canada. The Globe reported: “The obvious candidate is B.1.617.2, a sub-branch of the variant previously associated with India. Early estimates indicate it could be as much as 50-per-cent more transmissible than the B.1.1.7 variant, currently the dominant form of the virus in Canada. That variant is, similarly, about 50-per-cent more transmissible than the older version of the coronavirus it overtook this past spring. That takeover largely fuelled Canada’s third wave of the pandemic.”
We can see the concern is justified, and has been reinforced by other news suggesting that Canada should be preparing for the rise of a ‘more tenacious version of the coronavirus,’ even as more people are being vaccinated. It is explained that the three variants being tested for until recently, identified as from Britain, South Africa and Brazil – ‘are being outcompeted by an even more transmissible variant that the tests have not directly identified…. the B.1.617.2 variant could already account for one in 10 of all new cases in Ontario. If so, this would be in keeping with what is happening in Britain, where the B.1.617.2 variant is gaining on its predecessors with a speed that has some scientists there calling for a delay in a plan to end restrictions on June 21.’ This has implications for re-openings in Canada, as some senior scientists are indicating.
Another article from The Globe tells us: “The recently renamed Delta variant is the same one associated with a devastating acceleration of the pandemic in India. It was first reported in Canada in late April and evidence is mounting that it is spreading more readily than earlier variants. Peter Juni, the scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table and a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Toronto, said the Delta variant now makes up about one-quarter of COVID-19 cases in Peel Region, west of Toronto. Dr. Juni said his personal view is that the provincial government needs to flood the region with vaccines and make everyone there, regardless of age, eligible for a second dose immediately. ‘We have to control the Delta hot spot in Peel and therefore protect the rest of the province,’ he said.” This makes good sense, and it is to be hoped that it happens!
Ontario’s current situation is reminiscent of what the province faced in late February, as the second wave of the pandemic was in decline and public-health measures were being lifted, along with hopes the end was in sight. Instead, cases quickly began rising again. Hence the urgency now around more vaccinations and speedier administration of second doses. For a time, it was hoped that delaying second doses would not be overly problematic but the reverse is now the case: those second doses cannot come too soon, based on a British study last month that found “the B.1.617.2 variant chopped the effectiveness of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to a dismal 33.5 per cent after a first dose. Protection against the new variant after a second dose rose to about 90 per cent and 60 per cent respectively for the two vaccine types.” That is clearly significant. Dr Nathan Stall of the National Institute for Aging also emphasizes the urgency for this, as seen in a short video below.
Hesitation in reopening schools and other facilities has occurred, certainly in Ontario, with this trajectory in mind, and as lay people, most of us are not always up to date with, or clear about, the medical figures and projection models. Of course, those may prove inaccurate, but that would be a blessing, not a fault. Felix culpa. Authorities will as readily be blamed if there is a fourth wave, despite the warnings of its possibility.
President Biden says the US will donate nearly 20 million doses to needy countries, including 6 million to Canada. The question is: are we that needy? On the one hand I stated above that speedy administration of second doses will help Canada: on the other, we already rank highly in world order in terms of having administered at least one dose to 60% of our population. this will increase as millions more doses are set to flood into Canada from June to August. Karina Gould, Minister of Development, says the goal is to finish vaccinating Canadians first before donating any surplus, which we should achieve by the fall. Canada apparently purchased ten times more doses than we will need, although delivery was slow in the early stages. Couldn’t we at least make a firm commitment now, so that WHO and other distributors will know what to count on and when? My own opinion is that we should not accept the vaccines from the US when there are so many global shortages. I am as keen as anyone else on having everyone in Canada vaccinated, but there are so many hesitant and resistant people that there is no reason why their shots should be kept in storage when they could be sent now to those in need. According to Minister Anand, there will still be doses available later, should they change their minds.
The media is full of recriminations about the failures of both federal and provincial governments regarding their handling of the pandemic, and some of that is justified, e.g., not closing down the airports immediately, not ramping up testing, presenting vague protocols on cross-border travel, and so on. Certainly, the response to conditions in LTC homes was deplorable, while claiming lack of knowledge of existing conditions there is inexcusable. Government should be blamed where it failed to rectify matters known before the pandemic, but the rest of the population is also at fault. In so many situations we have not faced up to situations previously made known to us or demanded more from our politicians besides politically correct apologies: sexual assault in the armed forces, lack of water and other necessities of life in some indigenous areas, the numbers of babies aborted annually, the treatment of the elderly, the lack of palliative care, and the COVID deaths accelerated by neglectful conditions in many long-term care homes. There has been report upon report relating to all these issues (except abortion, because it is ‘legal’) but as a society we turn away. This week we have been faced with the tragic revelation of innocent children buried, nameless and forgotten, in an unmarked grave. May they rest in peace. The rest of us should not rest until these and so many other injustices to life, health, dignity and safety are righted.
We have included a video dealing with some ethical questions that still arise – thank you to Dr Richard Vohring of the University of Alberta for sending it. Also, please find Cardinal Collin’s heartfelt call for greater appreciation of and gratitude to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially during the month of June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart in the Catholic Church.
Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us!
Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience!
(Pope Francis’ intention for June, 2021)
Moira and Bambi
Canada’s inoculation rate is 13th among countries with a population of one million or more people. Open this photo in gallery Sources: Canada data is compiled from government websites, Johns …
More contagious COVID-19 variant prompts calls for two-dose coverage in hardest-hit areas www.theglobeandmail.com
Older Canadians should be getting their second vaccine doses, right now www.theglobeandmail.com
Doctor fears ‘vaccine Hunger Games 2.0’ for Ontario seniors looking to book second dose | CTV News
TORONTO — A Toronto doctor is sounding concern that Ontario’s second dose strategy may place an extra burden on seniors. On Friday, the Ontario government unveiled its plan to start getting …
Additional Learning Opportunity. Sigrid Jacobsen, Kate Slevin, and Nathan Stibrich (all of Archbishop Mitty High School, San Jose, CA) present a lesson plan discussion on “The Vaccination Debate: Conscience & the Common Good.” The lesson plan is designed for a high school science class but can be easily adapted for a theology class.
Heart Speaks to Heart – Archdiocese of Toronto – Archdiocese of Toronto
Heart Speaks to Heart2 Gospels, and through the sacraments. As the prophet Isaiah says: “with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)