He's 101, she's 92. But this couple at an Ontario seniors' home isn't a priority for the COVID-19 vaccine
"We know that those residents are sitting ducks," said Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the NIA told CBC News. Copernicus Lodge, located in Toronto's Roncesvalles neighbourhood, offers a long-term care or nursing home setting along with senior apartments. The nursing-home side is facing an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, with 47 residents infected.
More criticism over Canada’s vaccine rollout strategy
Lynda Steele chats with Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the National Institute on Ageing.
Dr. Samir Sinha
Kelly talks to Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the National Institute on Ageing. about staffing issues at Ontario's LTC homes.
LTC staff need better pay, support to ensure safety of residents: experts
“This is why we’ve seen such a huge challenge during this pandemic in Ontario, where so many of these workers … are bringing COVID-19 into the homes,” says Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA. “Frankly, a lot of folks don’t have a choice of taking a day off, but they really don’t have great sick benefits to begin with.”
Why is Ontario dragging its feet on vaccinating in LTC
Ontario has never seen as many long term care homes in outbreak (207) during the entire pandemic (peaked at 190 on May 18). Dr. Nathan Stall, Associate Fellow at the NIA is begging the province and its task force to pick up the pace and vaccinate all homes NOW.
Doug Ford is trying to manage COVID-19 by dribs and jabs. It’s not working
By: Bruce Arthur
“There’s no communication or plan on how to better control community transmission,” says Dr. Nathan Stall, Associate Fellow at the National Institute on Ageing. “The hospitals are being pushed to the brink, the long term care homes are on fire, our vaccines are locked in freezers and there’s no clear plan. I guess you could ask the question, what’s going right?”
Health experts urging quicker vaccine rollout as COVID-19 cases surge, doses sit in freezers
Ontario has been particularly cautious with this guidance compared to Quebec, British Columbia and other jurisdictions around the world, said Dr. Samir Sinha, the Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA. While much has been made about the difficulty of transporting the Pfizer vaccine, Dr. Sinha says that might not have been necessary.
Doctors urge Ontario to pick up pace on COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health education research at the NIA, agreed, saying the province needs to make vaccination a priority right now. "We know where these people live. So there's no reason why we shouldn't be making our number one priority getting the 127,500 people in these homes vaccinated today," Sinha said.
One-third of Ontario long-term care homes are dealing COVID-19 outbreaks
Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA, says long term care and retirement homes are in crisis mode, and the only thing that left to do, is for the province ramp up its vaccination efforts and vaccinate all long term care home and retirement home residents in Ontario.
'Why can't we get it done?': Dr. Sinha on slow vaccine rates
Dr. Samir Sinha shares his response to the slow vaccine rollout in Ontario and says there’s no reason why the pace can’t be picked up.
NEGLECTING SENIORS: How Ontario is Failing Its Seniors in Long-Term Care During COVID-19
Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA joins Amber Mac to talk about why thousands of residents of long-term care are dying during COVID-19.
MPP accuses province of neglect as long-term care home grapples with deadly COVID-19 outbreak
By: Desmond Brown
Meanwhile, Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the NIA, said the province has been far too slow with its vaccine rollout. "We have enough vaccines. We know where all the people are across our 1,396 homes. What's concerning to me is that we're now two weeks into having vaccines and we only actually used just north of 30,000 doses," Sinha told CBC News.
Concerns grow over long term care in Ontario
Dr. Nathan Stall, Associate Fellow at the NIA, talks about rising COVID-19 cases in Ontario.
