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COVID-19 — Drugs and Vaccine Tracker

Posted on June 15, 2020

In the months since the novel coronavirus rose from a regional crisis to a global threat, drug makers large and small have scrambled to advance their best ideas for thwarting a pandemic.

Some are taking a cue from older antivirals. Some are tapping tried-and-true technologies, and others are pressing forward with futuristic approaches to human medicine.

Here’s a guide to some of the most talked-about efforts to treat or prevent coronavirus infection, with details on the science, history, and timeline for each endeavor (and we will update the tracker with any new developments). We’re looking at novel medicines, not repurposed drugs. (For more on some of the efforts to repurpose drugs, read this.) The below therapies and vaccines are sorted in order of how close they could be to approval, starting with a treatment in Phase 3 trials, followed by others in Phase 1 studies and then preclinical development. Approval, of course, would only come if they are proven safe and effective.

View the full article HERE

Overdose Prevention and COVID-19

Posted on June 13, 2020

In British Columbia, there are two public health crises happening at the same time: the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing overdose crisis. It is a very challenging time right now and although you may feel so many things are outside your control, there are supports and resources to help protect vulnerable people during this time.

Go HERE for more information.

B.C. records highest ever number of opioid deaths in May

Posted on June 12, 2020

The BC Coroners Service has released some disturbing new numbers around drug overdose deaths.

In May, the province recorded 170 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths — the highest monthly total ever recorded in B.C. It equates to about 5.5 deaths a day.

It’s a 93-per-cent spike over the number of deaths in May 2019, and a 44-per-cent increase over April 2020.

Read more here: https://globalnews.ca/news/7054856/bc-highest-number-opioid-deaths-ever-may-2020/

COVID-19: B.C. Protects Amateur Sports Groups from Virus Liability

Posted on June 11, 2020

The B.C. government has passed a cabinet order protecting amateur sports organizations from COVID-19-related liability as they resume activities, and endorsed the Vancouver Canucks bid to be a hub city for NHL games this summer.

Premier John Horgan told reporters June 10 that some B.C. amateur sports organizations have been refused insurance, and the provincial order protects the estimated 800,000 youth and adult volunteers from lawsuits arising from COVID-19 exposure.

Read more here: https://www.vicnews.com/news/covid-19-b-c-protects-amateur-sports-groups-from-virus-liability/

Public Health Summer Institute 2020 – Draft Agenda and First Round of Speakers Released!

Posted on

11th Annual Public Health Summer School 2020

Think Globally, Act Locally

Public Health and the Anthropocene

Thursday July 9th & Friday July 10th, 2020
Register Today
phabc.org/summer-school-2020-registration/

Online this year due to COVID-19 but just as engaging as ever. Sign-up and attend anywhere you have internet

Want to know more? Read the Think Piece

 

One month to go until our annual public health summer institute (formally summer school), “Think Globally, Act Locally: Public Health and the Anthropocene,” and we are excited to release our draft agenda and the first round of speakers for our two-day event. Registration is open now for our online event, happening July 9th and 10th, 2020, if you haven’t registered yet what are you waiting for?

 

We are excited to welcome the following speakers to our summer institute:

  • Dr. Trevor Hancock – Professor & Senior Scholar (Retired), School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria
  • Dr. Maya Gislason – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
  • Dr. Shannon Waters – Cowichan Valley Medical Health Officer, Island Health
  • Wii Esdes, Sandra A. Martin Harris – Community Developer & Social Development Advisor, Gitksan Government Commission
  • Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon – Founder & Director, The Cascade Institute, Royal Roads University
  • Andrew Gage – Environmental Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law
  • Richard Han – Provincial Manager, Farm to School BC, PHABC
  • Dr. Tim Takaro – Professor, Faculty of Health Science, Simon Fraser University
  • Michael Nemeth – Passivhaus Consultant & Principal, Bright Buildings
  • Rita Koutsodimos – Executive Director, BC Alliance for Healthy Living Society
  • Dr. Theresa Healy – Adjunct Professor, School of Environmental Planning, University of Northern BC
  • Pemma Muzumdar – Knowledge Translation Specialist, National Collaborating Centre for the Determinants of Health
  • Aaren Topley – Provincial Manager, Can You Dig It!, PHABC
  • Dr. Wanda Martin – Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan
  • Cora Hallsworth – Senior Associate, One Earth Initiative & Principal, Cora Hallsworth Consulting
  • Dr. Margot Parkes – Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Northern BC
  • Jessie Best – Environmental Coordinator, Sustainability, Utilities & Environment, City of Saskatoon

 

 

Our intent is to locate this year’s summer school in this global ecological context, while grounding it in local public health action and linking it to the emerging debate about the need for transformative societal change and a just transition to a sustainable ‘One Planet’ society. Students will be introduced to each half day session topic via a main plenary presentation and then will split into small groups via breakout rooms to engage with the speaker and other students on a subtopic related to the main session.

 

The draft agenda is now available!
Please note that all times are in Pacific Standard Time.

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As always, check out our summer school tab for all the latest information on the institute and to register today. We can’t wait to see you online soon!

https://phabc.org/summer-school-2020/