Dr. Mariam Hanna noticed an uptick in requests for allergy assessments in her Burlington, Ont., clinic after the province began implementing COVID-19 vaccine certificates last month.
Whether people have held off on getting vaccinated because of a past reaction, or are seeking an exemption to inoculation mandates, Hanna said a previous allergic response doesn’t mean you can’t get your shots.
Allergists across the country have safely inoculated most patients who come into their clinics, regardless of allergy history, she said.
“Be it as an excuse or a misunderstanding or some miscommunication there, we are certainly getting a lot of referrals because of (vaccine rules),” said Hanna, an assistant clinical professor at McMaster University.
“Most of the time, it isn’t reason for exemption.”
Hanna said many of the patients she assesses are concerned about previous reactions to non-COVID-19 vaccines. But because the mRNA jabs from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are different from typical inoculations, those past reactions usually don’t come up again.
Other patients are concerned about receiving a second mRNA dose if they had an adverse reaction to the first. But she said many patients mistake common non-life threatening reactions _ including rash or swelling at the injection site _ for an allergy.
“It’s only the very, very few patients that have had a systemic reaction, typically within 15 to 20 minutes of receiving the first dose, that we want to be careful about,” Hanna said. “Most of the side effects that we expect with a vaccine, those are not contraindications for exemption.
“And sometimes you need an allergist to help clarify it.”
Allergists assess patients in their specialized clinics, taking a full history to determine the severity of the previous allergy experience – and whether it was an allergic reaction at all.
The assessment can sometime include skin tests, where an ingredient of the vaccine is smeared on a small patch of skin, but Hanna said every patient’s appointment will be different.
Dr. Samira Jeimy, a clinical immunology and allergy expert with Western University, said even those who experienced what they perceived to be strong allergic reactions could be mistaken.
Some non-allergic reactions can include anxiety-related events that mimic allergic responses, she said, including hyperventilation, fainting and even symptoms that look and feel like anaphylaxis – a severe, potentially life-threatening reaction where blood pressure drops and airways narrow making it hard to breathe.
“Things that mimic anaphylaxis are far more common than actual anaphylaxis,” Jeimy said. “One example is vocal cord dysfunction, where somebody could actually have their vocal cords slammed shut (when) nervous.”
The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology says the risk of systemic allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, is extremely rare. Studies suggest the estimated annual rate of anaphylaxis in Canada is approximately 0.4 to 1.8 cases per one million doses of vaccines administered.
According to Health Canada’s review on adverse vaccine reactions, 307 cases of anaphylaxis have been reported in the country – out of more than 56 million COVID-19 doses administered.
Jeimy said her London, Ont., clinic has been able to vaccinate “about 99 per cent” of people coming in with allergy concerns. That includes those who have had real, severe reactions to a first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Allergists work around this by giving someone with a confirmed allergy small amounts of the dose, separated by 15- to 30-minute observation periods, until dosing is done.
Jeimy said it can take hours to complete a graded administration for extreme cases.
“If I think the patient is at a moderate risk of reaction, I’ll divide the vaccine up into three or four doses,” she said. “If the patient is at a higher risk, I’ll make the dosing even longer.”
Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization says COVID-19 vaccines shouldn’t be offered “routinely” to those who had severe allergic reaction following the first dose. If a risk assessment deems the benefit of vaccination outweighs allergy risks, NACI says a different vaccine than the one that caused the initial reaction – either AstraZeneca’s viral vector jab or the mRNA products – may be used to complete the two-dose series.
Jeimy said that her clinic carries doses of AstraZeneca for emergency situations but she hasn’t had to use them. Instead, most people can safely complete a two-dose mRNA series.
Jeimy said allergists aren’t certain which component of the mRNA vaccines cause severe allergic reactions in a small number of people. But PEG, or polyethylene glycol, is “currently thought to be the culprit.” She added PEG allergies on skin tests don’t necessarily “correlate to vaccine tolerance,” however.
PEG is a common ingredient in cosmetics, skin-care products and some medications, including Tylenol and cough syrup, Jeimy said. So people with PEG allergies likely know they have it long before getting an mRNA vaccine.
NACI says a COVID-19 vaccine “should not be routinely offered to individuals who are allergic to any component” of the jab.
Jeimy urges people to ask a doctor for clarification before swearing off COVID-19 shots.
“I don’t think it’s helpful to preemptively avoid things because of a fear of a reaction,” she said. “You have a far greater risk of COVID-19 infection.”
Premier Doug Ford is set to reveal details this morning about Ontario’s vaccine certificate QR code and app. It comes as the app has become available for download Friday.
Details were posted on the Ontario website this morning that the app will making the “enhanced vaccine certificate” available to residents by birth month over a period of three days.
Starting Friday, anyone born between January and April is able to download the app. On Saturday, those born from May to August will be able to access the app and finally, those born in September to December can access it on Sunday.
The app also already available for download for businesses and organizations to scan people’s QR codes.
As of Monday morning at 8 a.m., it will available for everyone to download. All you will need to access your vaccine certificate in the app is your green photo health card.
The Ontario government is also expected announce the loosening of some COVID-19 restrictions.
A source has told CityNews capacity limits at restaurants and gyms are expected to be lifted. Mask mandates and other public health measures will remain in effect.
CityNews will be streaming the announcement LIVE on our website at 11 a.m.
RELATED: Ontario’s digital vaccine certificate available for businesses
RELATED: Ontario planning to lift more COVID-19 restrictions next week
CityNews has learned that a prototype of the app, which will be used by businesses to verify a
Under Ontario’s vaccine certificate program, only those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — or have a valid medical exemption from a doctor — can access certain settings, such as theatres, nightclubs and restaurant dining rooms.
As it stands, residents must show their vaccine receipt and photo ID to enter those facilities, but the province plans to replace that system with the black-and-white barcodes and an app-based scanner.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment played a key role in the development of the app to deliver it in near record time to Ontario businesses.
It’s being billed as a side-by-side collaboration to deliver an app in near record time to Ontario businesses.
Two highly skilled digital departments, one public, the other from the private sector, coming together with a shared goal — to build an app for Ontario companies to scan and verify vaccine QR codes, and do it fast.
CityNews spoke exclusively with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainments (MLSE) Chief Technology and Digital Officer Humza Teherany about the conglomerate’s involvement. They told us they helped with everything from building the app to testing, and everything in between.
“It’s been a true collaboration,” Teherany says. “It just was a logical partnership opportunity for us to tag team with the Ontario Digital Service (ODS), lend a hand really, because they were already working on this, but we have a ton of experience launching mobile products to millions of people.”
Ryerson University Public Health Professor Thomas Tenkate points out that it makes sense that a large corporation like MLSE would want to lend its expertise to the province for this high-stakes project.
“You have to say, well, if the assistance is about running a trial of the app in a pressure cooker situation, it’s really good for the progression of the app. The question is are there other aspects to what that assistance is?”
RELATED: Ontario’s digital vaccine certificate available for businesses, Ford to speak Friday
RELATED: Ontario planning to lift more COVID-19 restrictions next week
CityNews has learned that a prototype of the app, which will be used by businesses to verify a citizen’s unique QR code, was already in the works before MLSE came on board. However, when MLSE reached out to the ODS team, the two came to an agreement on a partnership and pooled their resources to build the app. The digital teams worked together, to write and test code. MLSE app engineers worked with ODS engineers and the province to deliver the app just weeks after Ontario’s Associate Minister of Digital Government made the announcement that an application for business was on the way.
“The government has to work on assuring people of what data will actually be collected and what will be housed with the vendor and what it’s tracking,” said professor Tenkate.
Associate Minister Kaleed Rasheed was not made available by his office for this story, nor was a member of the province’s digital services department, however the Ontario government has been clear that the app doesn’t collect and cannot share personal information. No organization, including MLSE, will have access to any user data.
Teherany notes that “the app is completely offline, the actual QR code is stored on a (personal) device, there’s no online retrieval of it” by any business.
Some in the restaurant industry who spoke with CityNews expressed concern that MLSE may have received preferential treatment for their services, with the government now allowing a capacity crowd at Scotiabank arena and other venues while bars and restaurants are still limited.
Speaking on background, government staff told CityNews that’s not the case at all, stating that MLSE simply offered their assistance free of cost to help the province as a whole.
The Ford Government will officially announce their partnership with MLSE as well as the details of the app and QR code rollout on Friday.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is in a California hospital for what his spokesman says is a “non-Covid-related infection.”
The 75-year-old was admitted back on Tuesday, according to spokesperson Angel Urena.
“He is on the mend, in good spirits,” read the brief statement.
A second statement from Clinton’s spokesman quoted physicians Dr. Alpesh Amin and Dr. Lisa Bardack, who said the former president has been “administered IV antibiotics and fluids.”
In the years since Clinton left the White House in 2001, the former president has faced health scares. In 2004, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery after experiencing prolonged chest pains and shortness of breath. He returned to the hospital for surgery for a partially collapsed lung in 2005, and in 2010 had a pair of stents implanted in a coronary artery.
He responded by embracing a largely vegan diet that saw him lose weight and report improved health.
He repeatedly returned to the stump, campaigning for Democratic candidates, mostly notably his wife, Hillary, during her failed 2008 bid for the presidential nomination. And in 2016, as his wife sought the White House as the Democratic nominee, Clinton _ by then a grandfather and nearing 70 _ returned to the campaign trail.
The UCI Medical Center is in Orange County, about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Los Angeles. It wasn’t immediately clear why Clinton was in Southern California.
Officers were called to Sheppard Avenue East and Hedge End Road just before 1 a.m. to reports of a man stabbed.
The victim reportedly stood in front of a bus so the bus driver stopped until police arrived. The stabbing appears to occurred somewhere else.
When emergency services arrived, the man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are now working to determine where the stabbing happened. There has been no suspect information released.
The Ford government is reportedly planning to loosen more COVID-19 restrictions as COVID-19 cases continue to trend down, according to multiple reports.
It comes nearly a week after Ontario lifted capacity limits in sports venues, concerts halls and movie theatres.
The province had planned to eventually exit the Step 3 phase of their reopening plan, but increasing case numbers and the delta variant forced them to pause.
Reports say the announcement is expected to come next week and will end the capacity limits in most public places including restaurants, bars and gyms.
Masking indoors and other public health restrictions are expected to remain in effect.
COVID-19 case numbers have been slowly decreasing with just over 300 new cases reported on Wednesday. The seven-day average also continues to trend downwards with it dropping to 500, reaching the lowest point since Aug. 19.
Vaccination numbers also continue to increase and have surpassed the province’s original metrics for exiting Step 3 with 87 per cent of the population eligible to be vaccinated having one dose and 82.5 per cent fully vaccinated.
The vaccine certificate verification app is expected to launch next Friday that will allow Ontarians to upload their information to a QR code for establishments to verify their vaccination status.
Proof-of-vaccination is currently required in most indoor settings including dine-in restaurants, gyms, indoor events and sports facilities.
The Department of National Defence has confirmed the incoming commander of the Canadian army is under military police investigation “into historical allegations.”
In its statement, the department did not specify the nature of those allegations, but the Ottawa Citizen reports Lt.-Gen. Trevor Cadieu is accused of sexual misconduct.
In his own statement, Cadieu denied any wrongdoing, but said he has asked the acting Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre, to consider selecting another leader.
“While I have devoted every day of my career to making fellow members feel respected and included, Canadian Army soldiers deserve a leader who is unencumbered by allegations and can lead at this important time when culture change, addressing systemic misconduct and preparing tactical teams for operations must remain the priority effort,” Cadieu said.
A previously-planned Change of Command ceremony scheduled to take place last month was postponed due to the investigation.
“The postponement of the ceremony is not an indictment of LGen Cadieu,” the statement from National Defence reads. “However, in light of the ongoing investigation, a decision was made to allow the justice system to pursue the matter in accordance with the rule of law.”
Cadieu said the allegations are false, “but they must be investigated thoroughly to expose the truth,” adding he has provided “detailed information and correspondence” to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, and has “taken other measures to prove my truthfulness and innocence.”
A member of the Conservative Party of Canada’s national council has been suspended after spearheading an effort to trigger an early review of Erin O’Toole’s leadership.
Bert Chen sat as a representative from Ontario when he started an online petition to collect signatures in hopes the council would hold a referendum before 2023.
He launched it within 24-hours of the Conservative’s election defeat on Sept. 20, making it the first open question of O’Toole’s tenure.
Chen says members feel O’Toole has betrayed the party’s values when it comes to spending and a consumer carbon price on fuel.
Party president Rob Batherson says in a statement that the up to 60-day suspension follows complaints it received about Chen’s conduct, which will be investigated.
O’Toole tried putting a more moderate stamp on the party in hopes it would gain them more voters, but doing so has irked some Conservatives because he billed himself as the “true blue” candidate to win over the party base in last year’s leadership race.
In a Facebook post, Chen calls his suspension a way “to silence Conservative members that have lost confidence in the leadership of Erin O’Toole.”
He says many want him removed “for selling out their beliefs for a failed attempt at power.”
“I look forward to continue to represent the members that elected me in their wishes for a new leader after this 60 day period.”
Batherson says a committee will look into the complaints against Chen and recommend to national council whether he acted in a way that could negatively impact its reputation or that of the leader or party.
Last week, O’Toole’s caucus voted in favour of giving itself the power to oust him as leader, although for that to happen at least 20 per cent would first have to sign a written notice to force a secret ballot vote.
The Conservative leader said he believes he has the support of his 118 elected members to stay in the job and that he supports caucus having the power to review his leadership because it creates transparency.
Many MPs have offered a public show of support for O’Toole with statements on social media cautioning against rushing to replace him as leader out of concern about the message it could send to voters.
Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs is the lone voice of the group to publicly call for the party’s grassroots to be able to vote on his leadership within the next six months instead of having to wait until the next national convention in 2023.
Stubbs has said she wants to know from O’Toole what he meant when he said on election night that Conservatives needed the courage to change. She said members should have a direct say on amending party policies and values.
O’Toole has not directly answered when asked whether he would try and bump up the members’ planned review.
A woman in her 60’s has been pronounced dead after being struck by a vehicle.
It happened just after 8 p.m. near Don Mills and The Donway. She was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries where she was pronounced dead.
Toronto Police say the driver of the vehicle did remain on scene. It’s not clear if they will face any charges.
Traffic Services is now investigating.
The Donway is closed in both directions between Don Mills Road and Burdock Lane
Aunt Tia’s Coconut Johnny Cake
The origins of johnny cake dates to the 18th century. Fishermen and sailors made this bread on the decks of their vessels by building a fire in a box that was filled with sand to keep the flames from spreading to the craft. It was originally called journey cake because it was quick to make and sustainable while travelling. Taste a piece of history with my aunt’s legendary recipe.
Serves 8
Ingredients
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp (30 mL) baking powder
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1/4 cup (60 mL) butter, cubed
1/2 cup (125 mL) frozen grated coconut, thawed
2 Tbsp (30 mL) canola or vegetable oil
1 cup (250 mL) whole milk
1/4 cup (60 mL) whipping (or heavy) cream (35%)
Method
- Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Grease an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking dish with butter.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar salt and mix.
- Add butter and, using your hand, combine with flour by breaking up into smaller pieces. Add coconut, oil, and mix.
- Slowly pour in milk while mixing with your other hand to form dough into a ball (the dough should be soft and easy to handle). Dust a clean surface with flour and knead dough a few times.
- Place dough in the baking dish, spread out and level with your hands. Pour cream over and bake, about 45 minutes until the top is golden or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Turkey Pot Pie with Johnny Cake Crust
I enjoy comfort foods immensely, and this delectable pot pie is the perfect dish to transform that Thanksgiving left over turkey, while remaining moist and succulent. It’s sealed in an 18th Century cake-like bread and it’s a gastronomical delight!
Serves 8
Ingredients
1 recipe Coconut Johnny Cake Dough
Herb Mix
1 Tbsp (15 mL) diced fresh
Italian parsley
1 Tbsp (15 mL) diced fresh basil
2 tsp (10 mL) diced fresh chives
1 Tbsp (15 mL) cornstarch
Pot Pie Filling
2 cups (500 mL) turkey (dark or white meat), cubed or shredded
3 Tbsp (45 mL) olive oil
1/2 cup (125 mL) butter
2/3 cup (160 mL) all-purpose flour
½ onion, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
2 cloves garlic, diced
2 celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch (1 cm) pieces
4 cups (1 L) whole milk
1/2 cup (125 mL) white wine
2 1/2 cups (625 mL) chicken stock
1 large Caribbean sweet potato, diced
2 large carrots, sliced 1/2-inch (1 cm) thick on the diagonal
2 ears corn, kernels removed
1 cup (250 mL) frozen peas, thawed
2 tsp (10 mL) fresh thyme leaves
2 tsp (10 mL) dried oregano
Juice of ½ lemon
Pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup (125 mL) whipping (or heavy)
cream (35%)
Method
- Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Set aside a 13- x 9-inch (33 x 23 cm) baking dish.
- Roll dough out ½ inch (1 cm) thick to fit inside the baking dish, leaving a 1/2-inch (1 cm) space at the edge of the pan (dough will spread while baking). Set aside on parchment paper.
- Mix herb toppings with cornstarch and set aside.
- In an 8-quart (8 L) pot, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir for 1 minute. Add onion, garlic, celery and cook for 3 minutes more until flour is bubbly.
- Add milk while continuing to stir. Add wine and stock and bring to a boil. Add potato, carrots, corn, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Add turkey (with any left-over drippings or aspic), add peas, thyme, oregano, nutmeg and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove from heat, skim off any fat on the surface.
- Ladle or carefully pour the turkey chowder into the baking dish (reserve any leftover soup for plating), leaving 1/2-inch (1 cm) space at top for the crust.
- Lift parchment paper with the dough, place it over soup (if dough splits, it will come together while baking). Sprinkle herb mixture over top, pour warm cream over the herbed dough.
- Transfer the dish to the oven and bake until crust is golden and done for approximately 25-30 minutes. Serve at once in individual bowls, making sure to spoon the additional soup around the golden johnny cake crust.
