STRATEGY PANEL: WHO’S CHIEF SCIENTIST SAYS THAT MIXING COVID-19 DOSES A “DANGEROUS TREND”

Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer this week. She is joined by Karen Stintz, CEO of Variety Village, John Capobianco, Senior Vice President & Senior Partner, FleishmanHillard HighRoad, and Charles Sousa, the former Minister of Finance for Ontario and Member of Provincial Parliament for Mississauga South.

In the news: The World Health Organization’s Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan openly advised against the mixing of COVID-19 vaccine doses citing little data available about the associated health impacts. Meanwhile, here in Canada, the mixing between the doses has been taking place following NACI’s recommendation that it is safe to do so. Our panelists weigh in on the conflicting public health messaging. And, in provincial politics, the apparent internal feud within the Green Party continues as we learn that the party’s top brass moved to block funding for leader Annamie Paul’s riding campaign. Also, it seems that top leaders in the Ford government have been less visible in recent weeks including Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliot. Is this strategic? Our panelists weigh in on the latest.

CONFRONTING HESITANCY OVER MIXING OF VACCINE DOSES 

Jane Brown is joined by Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, Dr. Gerald Evans, Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Queen’s University and Dr. Tania Watts, Professor of Immunology at the University of Toronto.

Our guests weigh in on the very real hesitancy among some members of the general public when it comes to the mixing of different COVID-19 vaccines and the concerning trend of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation online on places like Twitter.