LEAD-ZOOMER SQUAD: ADULTS OVER 80 IN ONTARIO CONTINUE TO FACE BARRIERS TO COVID-19 VACCINES

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by David Cravit, Vice President of Zoomer Media, Bill VanGorder, Interim Chief Policy Officer of CARP and Peter Muggeridge, Senior Editor of Zoomer Magazine.

Today’s discussion: According to new data by the Institute for for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Ontario’s COVID-19 hot spots also happen to be the locations where vaccine uptake rates among the elderly are the lowest. Our panel explores the various existing barriers that have made it more difficult to fully vaccinate this demographic including ethnic background. Meanwhile, the president and CEO of the Ornge air ambulance company, Dr. Homer Tien, has officially replaced Ret. Gen. Rick Hillier as the head of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout task force. Our panel weighs in on the latest.

SEGMENT 2: ONTARIO’S RISING COVID-19 CASES AND YOUNGER ADULTS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING ADMITTED TO THE ICU

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Dr. Timothy Sly, an epidemiologist and professor at the school of Occupational and Public Health at Ryerson University followed by Dr. Michael Warner, Medical Director of Critical Care at Michael Garron Hospital.

In the news: Ontario’s daily cases are climbing. Today’s reported number is: 2,938 cases. Yesterday, that number was even higher at 3,041 cases. Are Ontario’s latest COVID-19 measures sufficient especially in light of the new variants? Meanwhile, hospitals are reporting an increase in younger adults being administered amid the third wave and it’s reportedly being fuelled by the new variants. Our health experts weigh in on the latest.