Foreword
As 2021will soon enter into the history books, we firstly wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2022! We look forward to meeting with all of you in person again soon!
COVID continues to dominate the headline. Canada’s first locally made COVID vaccine (Medicago’s plant-based virus-like particle vaccine) appears ready for debut. Canada was also chosen to be one of the three manufacturing sites for Merck’s Molnupiravir, an oral anti-viral drugs that may be effective against COVID. As usual, we have some webinar and resources you may find interesting.
New Zealand became the first jurisdiction in the world to fully legalize drug testing, and Germany is contemplating the same upon the new government being sworn into office. Should Canada do the same?
On the issue of mass gathering and harm reduction, an Australian survey study indicated some festival goers chose to ingest quantity of drugs earlier or in larger doses, fearful of police and legal action. What are the strategies to mitigate the risks?
Separately, a US news organization conducted an investigative piece on sexual assaults at a particular music festival. What can be done to make the events safer for everyone?
COVID webinars
COVID-19 Vaccine for Pediatric Use in Canada
Date: Monday, December 13, 2021 1200-1315 EST
Host: National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba
https://nccid.ca/webcast/covid-19-vaccine-for-pediatric-use-in-canada/
Expert Q&A with Public Health, Primary Care, Vaccine, Epidemiology, and Lab Specialists
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Host: Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
COVID CLINICAL RESOURCES
[Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table] Clinical Practice Guideline Summary: Recommended Drugs and Biologics in Adult Patients with COVID-19
https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/sciencebrief/clinical-practice-guideline-summary-recommended-drugs-and-biologics-in-adult-patients-with-covid-19-version-5-0/
[IDSA] Updates in COVID-19 Treatment and Antibody-Based Prevention
https://www.idsociety.org/multimedia/clinician-calls/cdcidsa-covid-19-clinician-call-updates-in-covid-19-treatment-and-antibody-based-prevention/
Six different COVID-19 boosters induce variable immune response
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/936564
MASS GATHERING
New Zealand to enshrine protections for pill testing in ‘world first’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/01/new-zealand-to-enshrine-protections-for-pill-testing-in-world-first
The Traffic Light Coalition agrees to the legalisation of cannabis products as outlined in the new Coalition Agreement
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=04cc4dc7-87c9-4ed4-82fd-1e125cca6d47
Police presence at music festivals can lead to ‘panic overdoses’ of drugs
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/19/police-presence-at-music-festivals-can-lead-to-panic-overdoses-of-drugs
‘A sexual predator’s paradise.’ Investigation of Faster Horses music festival uncovers 30 reported sexual assaults
https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/11/a-sexual-predators-paradise-investigation-of-faster-horses-music-festival-uncovers-30-reported-sexual-assaults.html