Latest news with #SylviaJones
Hamilton Spectator
18 hours ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario health units say measles vaccine registry missing ‘real-time data' on vaccination rates
Under fire for a growing measles outbreak linked to the death of a newborn last week, Health Minister Sylvia Jones is calling on people who are vaccine-resistant to get over it. But public health units in areas hit hard by the highly infectious disease said it's impossible to tell if that's happening because short-term data on measles shots is not immediately available in Ontario's public health system. 'This is a vaccine that has literally existed in the province of Ontario for five decades and when you have two shots you are almost 100 per cent protected. Think about that,' Jones said Tuesday. 'All of us are deeply concerned when we hear of individuals who, for any number of reasons, have chosen not to get vaccinated, some because of allergies, some because of religious and other reasons. It impacts us,' she added. 'This is an opportunity for all of us to understand that our actions have an impact on other people.' The infant who died was born prematurely and was infected in utero through a mother who had not been vaccinated. The newborn was also dealing with other serious health complications. There were renewed calls for Premier Doug Ford's government to step up efforts to fight measles and encourage shots, after Ontario's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore on Thursday, revealed the fatality last Thursday. However, for now, health units can't tell if the infant's death has spurred more interest in shots, which cannot be taken during pregnancy. 'We do not have the ability to pull real-time data on vaccination uptake over a short window like this, unfortunately,' Southwestern Public Health, where the infant's death occurred, said in a statement to the Star. The health unit is based in St. Thomas to serve Elgin and Oxford counties. 'The majority of vaccination uptake remains at the primary care level, and without a provincial vaccine registry with real-time data, there is no system currently available that can provide this information,' the statement added. Chatham-Kent Public Health said it is also in the dark. 'At present, we do not have data available to assess any shifts in public sentiment regarding the measles vaccine,' said spokesperson Jacquie Cartwright. With the province acknowledging last week there have been six cases of congenital infection in the more than 2,000 cases reported in the province since last October, New Democrat MPP Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre) said Tuesday the province needs a vaccine registry 'that would help us know who is most vulnerable and where to direct our resources.' The rising infection level shows the government's approach of telling people to see their family doctor or reach out to their local public health unit is not working, Lennox, a family physician, told the Star's Kristin Rushowy last week. 'Obviously, something has broken down, because the advice has been the same for many, many years and this is the only time where we've seen this kind of an outbreak in literally 30 years.' Public health units have held pop-up clinics near schools and churches since the outbreak began. Many of the current cases can be traced to a Mennonite wedding in New Brunswick last fall. Measles had been considered eradicated in Ontario for two decades.
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
Ontario health units say measles vaccine registry missing ‘real-time data' on vaccination rates
Under fire for a growing measles outbreak linked to the death of a newborn last week, Health Minister Sylvia Jones is calling on people who are vaccine-resistant to get over it. But public health units in areas hit hard by the highly infectious disease said it's impossible to tell if that's happening because short-term data on measles shots is not immediately available in Ontario's public health system. 'This is a vaccine that has literally existed in the province of Ontario for five decades and when you have two shots you are almost 100 per cent protected. Think about that,' Jones said Tuesday. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'All of us are deeply concerned when we hear of individuals who, for any number of reasons, have chosen not to get vaccinated, some because of allergies, some because of religious and other reasons. It impacts us,' she added. 'This is an opportunity for all of us to understand that our actions have an impact on other people.' The infant who died was born prematurely and was infected in utero through a mother who had not been vaccinated. The newborn was also dealing with other serious health complications. There were renewed calls for Premier Doug Ford's government to step up efforts to fight measles and encourage shots, after Ontario's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore on Thursday, revealed the fatality last Thursday. However, for now, health units can't tell if the infant's death has spurred more interest in shots, which cannot be taken during pregnancy. 'We do not have the ability to pull real-time data on vaccination uptake over a short window like this, unfortunately,' Southwestern Public Health, where the infant's death occurred, said in a statement to the Star. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The health unit is based in St. Thomas to serve Elgin and Oxford counties. 'The majority of vaccination uptake remains at the primary care level, and without a provincial vaccine registry with real-time data, there is no system currently available that can provide this information,' the statement added. Chatham-Kent Public Health said it is also in the dark. 'At present, we do not have data available to assess any shifts in public sentiment regarding the measles vaccine,' said spokesperson Jacquie Cartwright. With the province acknowledging last week there have been six cases of congenital infection in the more than 2,000 cases reported in the province since last October, New Democrat MPP Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre) said Tuesday the province needs a vaccine registry 'that would help us know who is most vulnerable and where to direct our resources.' The rising infection level shows the government's approach of telling people to see their family doctor or reach out to their local public health unit is not working, Lennox, a family physician, told the Star's Kristin Rushowy last week. 'Obviously, something has broken down, because the advice has been the same for many, many years and this is the only time where we've seen this kind of an outbreak in literally 30 years.' Public health units have held pop-up clinics near schools and churches since the outbreak began. Many of the current cases can be traced to a Mennonite wedding in New Brunswick last fall. Measles had been considered eradicated in Ontario for two decades. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Ontario expediting process for U.S. doctors, nurses to work in province
Published Jun 05, 2025 • 1 minute read Doctors and nurses licensed in the United States will soon be able to more easily practise in Ontario under new changes by the province. Photo by Postmedia Network files Doctors and nurses licensed in the United States will soon be able to more easily practise in Ontario, under changes announced Thursday by the minister of health. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Sylvia Jones says the move will increase the number of health-care professionals working in the province. The province is enabling qualified U.S.-licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses to start working in Ontario health settings before they register with the regulatory college. Read More They will be allowed to work for up to six months while seeking registration with either the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Nurses of Ontario. Doctors and nurses would still have to go through the usual immigration processes, and to qualify they must be licensed in their home jurisdiction with no history of misconduct or incompetence. The government previously expedited the process for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists registered in other jurisdictions in Canada to work in Ontario while going through the registration process. RECOMMENDED VIDEO World Olympics Columnists Columnists NHL
Global News
6 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Ontario making it easier to poach U.S. health-care workers with registration change
Ontario is tweaking its registration rules for health-care professionals to make it easier to poach nurses from the United States and allow them to begin practising in the province sooner. On Thursday, the Ford government announced it would allow nurses and board-certified physicians to move to Ontario from the United States and begin working immediately while they apply to have their credentials recognized. According to a news release from the government, U.S.-licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and registered practical nurses can work for six months while transferring their qualifications and registering. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'By cutting the red tape that is delaying highly trained U.S.-licensed doctors and nurses from being able to live and work in Ontario, we are making bold strides to ensure Ontario patients receive timely and accessible care,' Health Minister Sylvia Jones said. 'These changes build on our government's historic action to reduce labour mobility barriers for health-care professionals within Canada, and will now make it faster and easier for American physicians and nurses to care for Ontario patients.' Story continues below advertisement The new registration rules for U.S.-based nurses and physicians mirror changes the province previously brought in for health-care professionals from other parts of Canada. The move would not exempt nurses or physicians from other work permit or immigration laws, but would make it easier to begin working in their field once they move to Ontario. The move comes as the Ford government continues its efforts to onshore Canadian products and supply chains as part of Canada's ongoing trade war with the United States. The province is looking to eliminate trade barriers with other parts of the country, has banned the sale of U.S alcohol and introduced a domestic manufacturing tax credit.
CBC
6 days ago
- Health
- CBC
U.S. doctors, nurses will be able to work in Ontario more easily through new fast-tracked process
Social Sharing Doctors and nurses licensed in the United States will soon be able to more easily practise in Ontario, under changes announced today by the minister of health. Sylvia Jones says the move will increase the number of health-care professionals working in the province. The province is enabling qualified U.S.-licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses to start working in Ontario health settings before they register with the regulatory college. They will be allowed to work for up to six months while seeking registration with either the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Nurses of Ontario. Doctors and nurses would still have to go through he usual immigration processes, and to qualify they must be licensed in their home jurisdiction with no history of misconduct or incompetence. The government previously expedited the process for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists registered in other jurisdictions in Canada to work in Ontario while going through the registration process.
