Hep A vaccine shortage hits Canada
Canada is facing a hepatitis A vaccine shortage due to increased demand and shipping delays, a trend expected to persist until spring, according to vaccine manufacturers.
There are several types of hepatitis A vaccines in Canada manufactured by three companies: Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK) and Merck. In an email to Global News on Feb. 21, Health Canada said all three companies are reporting shortages of at least one of their hepatitis A vaccines.
Hepatitis A, a viral infection primarily affecting the liver, spreads through contaminated food or water and close contact with infected individuals, Health Canada said. While Canada has approved multiple highly effective vaccines against hepatitis A, the current shortage poses challenges.
With the shortage of the hepatitis A vaccine in Canada, travellers should be aware of potential implications for any future vacation plans.
Hepatitis A is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in travellers, Health Canada warned. Protection against the virus is recommended for all travellers to endemic countries, especially to rural areas or places with inadequate sanitary facilities.
“If patients and/or caregivers are concerned about their access to, or the supply of, a specific drug, or vaccine, they should speak with their primary health care provider about other potential treatment options or alternatives,” a Health Canada spokesperson told Global News in an email.
Read more about the symptoms of hepatitis A and what vaccines are affected by the shortage.
Measles warning in Canada
With a global surge in measles cases, concerns are escalating regarding potential cases imported into Canada, especially with spring break around the corner.
Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), said in a media release on Feb. 23 that as spring break approaches, she urges Canadians to get up to date with their measles vaccine.
“I strongly advise everyone in Canada to be vaccinated with two doses of a measles vaccine, especially before travelling. If needed, measles vaccination should optimally be given at least two weeks before departure, but there are still benefits if given less than two weeks before travelling,” she said.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can spread through air and close contact. Despite Canada’s long-standing elimination of the virus, the risk persists if individuals are not fully vaccinated, especially with international travel.
The best protection against measles is vaccination with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, which are almost 100 per cent effective at preventing infection, she said.
Read more about the symptoms of measles and how to best protect yourself.
— THE TOPIC —
Can your doctor drop you for visiting a walk-in?
— WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING —
Visiting a walk-in clinic can offer speedy diagnosis, especially in areas with doctor shortages, but it might hit your family doctor’s wallet.
In some parts of Canada, your family doctor could lose money if you opt for a walk-in clinic over their care. This may leave some physicians less than pleased after your recent walk-in visit and could give them a reason to dump you as a patient.
“I don’t think patients or members of the public really understand that when they go to a walk-in clinic, their doctor may be losing income,” said Rick Glazier, a family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
Although it may be unusual to fire a patient for receiving care at a walk-in, Glazier told Global News, it’s still possible.
The funding mechanisms for these health-care providers vary from province to province, potentially influencing whether your family doctor faces financial penalties when you visit a walk-in.
In Ontario, some doctors land under the Family Health Organization (FHO). With the FHO approach, doctors receive compensation per patient rather than per visit. But under the FHO plan, a family physician can get penalized if their patient seeks care elsewhere, like a walk-in clinic.
If the patient ends up going to the walk-in clinic multiple times over a year, Glazier said it may end up not being financially feasible to keep that patient on their roster. If that is the case, the doctor can fire the patient, or move them off the roster.
He explained that because many family practices in Ontario want to retain patients, numerous clinics are now extending their operating hours to include weekends and evenings.
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