A weekly look at the health news that matters to you. Dr. Brian Goldman brings you the best science from top experts in plain language. He cuts through the BS and confusion to give you a dose of smart advice that you won’t find anywhere else. New episodes every Thursday.
Omicron is still the dominant coronavirus strain in the country. But lately we’ve been hearing about what’s been dubbed the “little sister” of Omicron, known as subvariant BA.2. So what do we know about this Omicron subvariant? We find out from Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).
More than three times as many Canadians have received the Pfizer vaccine compared to the one made by Moderna. But Canada has a stockpile of Moderna vaccines. So how do the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines measure up now? We find out from Kelly Grindrod, a pharmacist and associate professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy.
As kids are either back in class or about to return, Dr. Brian Goldman speaks with infectious diseases pediatrician Dr. Fatima Kakkar about how parents can protect their kids in school against Omicron.
Some countries are now administering a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to the most vulnerable. Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch helps answer the question: Just how many vaccine doses do we need to stay a step ahead of the pandemic?
The Omicron variant is sending COVID-19 cases skyrocketing across Canada. Guidelines over what to do are changing quickly. Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious diseases specialist at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, offers advice on what to do if you think you have the Omicron variant.
Learning how to breathe better can have real impacts on your overall health, according to James Nestor, author of “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art”. He shares tips on how we can harness the power of our breath, even when we're wearing a mask, and feel better physically and mentally as a result.
Psychiatrist Jackie Kinley offers practical advice on how to get some control back as the Omicron variant sends cases soaring before Christmas.
The Omicron variant is sending COVID case numbers soaring, leading the federal government to warn against non-essential travel abroad and health experts to suggest keeping gatherings small. If you do decide to get together with loved ones for the holiday, infectious diseases specialist Dr. Andrew Morris offers some ways to stay safe.
Dr. Brian Goldman speaks with infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch about why it's so important to get a third dose now, if you're eligible.
Dr. Brian Goldman speaks with infectious diseases physician Dr. Zain Chagla about omicron, the new coronavirus variant of concern.
Covid vaccinations for kids from 5 to 11 are starting to roll out across the country. Dr. Brian Goldman and clinical psychologist Christine Chambers talk about some techniques to reduce the pain of vaccinations for children.
Colder weather and relaxed pandemic restrictions mean more people indoors. This week, we’re asking how ventilation and air filtration can reduce the spread of COVID-19?
As society reopens, everyone's comfort level with indoor socializing is different. Dr. Brian Goldman speaks with epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan about navigating safety and etiquette when it comes to indoor activities this fall.
Global leaders are trying to move forward on climate action at COP26 in Glasgow as the world reels from more and more extreme weather events. Canada has been hit by deadly floods, wildfires and heat domes. These seemingly insurmountable problems are making some people nervous enough to want to see a doctor. Dr. Brian Goldman speaks to registered counselling therapist Nancy Blair about the best way to deal with eco-anxiety.
Some experts fear this year's flu season will be severe - especially with the pandemic still raging in many parts of Canada. Dr. Brian Goldman speaks with Dr. Susy Hota, Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control at University Health Network in Toronto, about the latest developments in flu vaccines.
For seniors, falls are the number one cause of ending up in hospital due to injuries. And about half of these hospitalizations result from a fall in the home. Dr. Brian Goldman talks to occupational therapist Marnie Courage about some simple tips to help reduce the risk of falling.
COVID vaccines are already approved in Canada for people aged 12 and older. Now, PfizerBioNTech says it plans to apply to Health Canada to authorize its vaccine in children aged five to eleven, as early as this week. So what do we know about kids and COVID vaccines?
The first experimental pill to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 is on the way, according to the drug company Merck & Co. We hear from Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, about the new drug, molnupiravir, and other COVID-19 treatments.
Some experts are calling for more rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 in Canada. But how accurate are rapid tests and when should you use them?
Viruses dampened by Covid-19 restrictions last year are coming back strong this fall. If you take a Covid test and it's negative, how can you figure out what virus you might have?
Canada's vaccine advisory body has recommended booster shots for certain immunocompromised individuals. But other countries such as Israel and the U.K are offering third doses to broader segments of their populations, despite concerns about ongoing inequities in global vaccine distribution. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch takes a close look at the issues.
Canadians aged 12 to 39 now have the lowest vaccination rates in the country. And with the majority of COVID-19 cases appearing in unvaccinated people, experts say it’s as important as ever to increase vaccination rates across Canada. So how can you use science to counter the misinformation behind vaccine refusal?
Delta has become the predominant strain of COVID across the country. Dr. Brian Goldman talks to Nazeem Muhajarine, professor of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan, about what we need to do to avoid a lockdown this fall.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave "accelerated approval" this month to the first new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease in nearly two decades. But there is controversy over the efficacy of the drug, as well as its cost and side effects. Saska Sivananthan, chief of research and knowledge translation for the Alzheimer Society of Canada, breaks down what we know so far about the drug.
The pandemic led to a drop in the rates of smoking and vaping tobacco. But while smoking rates continue to fall, vaping rates especially in teens are creeping up again. David Hammond, a professor of public health, outlines the risks and why we can't forget the 'old pandemic' of smoking.
More and more Canadians are getting their second dose of COVID vaccine. So what's safe for you to do if you're heading into a two dose summer? Can you travel? Hug your grandkids? Go to restaurants? Infectious diseases specialist Lynora Saxinger has the answers for what life can look if you're fully vaccinated.
Some Canadians may be looking at the reopening in the U.K. with some envy but not so fast, says U.K. epidemiologist Dr. Deepti Gurdasani. The delta variant, also known as B1617, first identified in India, is driving a new COVID wave in the U.K. — and it's spreading quickly around the world, including in Canada. Gurdasani has stark advice to Canadian officials: act now to contain this variant or a fourth wave is likely coming.
Surgery delays, addiction, a steep drop off in ER visits, all contributed to a spike in excess deaths during the pandemic beyond COVID deaths. Yet for some common conditions, the drop in ER visits had no impact on patient outcomes. What does this tell us? And how can we tackle the surgery backlog? Dr. Peter Juni, the scientific director of The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, explains.
Feeling anxious about re-entering society when pandemic restrictions are lifted? Or maybe you're feeling exuberant? Steven Taylor, author "The Psychology of Pandemics", and a professor and clinical psychologist in the department of psychiatry at UBC, walks us through the psychology of post-pandemic life — and why some people will experience lingering mental health side effects, while others will experience something called post-traumatic growth.
What's the difference between seeing a therapist and trusting a therapist? Dr. Hillary McBride and her clients want you to hear for yourself in Other People’s Problems. After working together for years, they want to demystify the long game when it comes to mental health and let us hear what years of therapy really sound like. More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/otherpeoplesproblems
