January 7, 2021 – Each week, we’re sharing a list of 10 great things that happened at our sites. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Send it to communications@unityhealth.to.

1) Unity Health charges ahead with massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign 

In an incredible milestone, 95 per cent of the residents at the Houses of Providence received their first dose of the vaccine in a single day on Wednesday while music played in the halls and joyful staff looked on. In the meantime, more than 3,000 health care workers have now been vaccinated at the COVID-19 vaccination site at St. Michael’s, with priority going to long-term care and retirement homes, and spots going to our patient-facing staff and physicians when space allows. Our newest vaccination site at St. Joseph’s Health Centre opens this weekend and our teams are fanning out to the long-term care homes we support, to get more needles in arms.

2) Dr. Ripudaman Singh Minhas pens an op-ed on supporting students with disabilities during the pandemic

For students with disabilities, school shutdowns come with a huge cost to vital brain development, our Dr. Ripudaman Singh Minhas writes in the Globe and Mail. He says that policy makers must engage family members in the decision-making process in order to support students with disabilities. Read more in his op-ed.

3) Dr. Rania Lingas spoke to the Globe and Mail about the pandemic’s impact on cancer patients

The loneliness cancer patients face during the pandemic remains unseen says our Dr. Rania Lingas, Medical Oncologist at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. She notes how it has been challenging to watch what her patients go through while some people continue to dismiss the pandemic. Read more.

4) What can Canada learn from COVID-19 vaccine rollouts from around the world? Dr. Tara Kiran weighs in

Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been off to a slow start. Our Dr. Tara Kiran was on CBC The National to discuss what we can learn from countries like Israel that have vaccination clinics running around the clock. Watch the segment.

5) We spotlight Freddy Paiz as part of our Behind the Mask series

Freddy Paiz, a Neurophysiology Technologist at St. Michael’s Hospital, was redeployed to support virtual patient and family visits. He feels honoured that he is able to help families connect. “I thought it was a perfect fit for me knowing that my dad – not my biological dad, but the person I consider my dad – had died of COVID-19.” Read his story #BehindtheMask.

6) Canada will vaccinate federal inmates against COVID-19 starting Friday. Dr. Farah Mawani weighs in on the initiative   

Dr. Farah Mawani, Epidemiologist at Unity Health Toronto, spoke with Reuters on Canada’s decision to vaccinate federal inmates. She says the important initiative will address the “higher risk of transmissions in prisons” and “multiple active outbreaks in prisons.” Read more.

7) Dr. Carolyn Snider shares her wishes for 2021 with the Toronto Star

To usher in the new year, the Toronto Star spoke with our Dr. Carolyn Snider, and other notable Canadians, on what they are hoping to accomplish this year. Read more.

8) Dr. Thomas Ungar weighs in on how the pandemic affects mental health

Our Dr. Thomas Ungar, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at St. Michael’s Hospital, spoke with CondoBusiness on how isolation, social limitations and the economic effects of the pandemic are exacerbating mental health problems. As the pandemic continues to evolve, he says he is “most worried about the economic effects for those who can’t cope or distance because of their physical space or who can’t maintain their incomes.” Read more.

9) The Globe and Mail publishes an op-ed by Dr. Fahad Razak and his co-authors on the need for less restrictive visitor policies at hospitals

Overly restrictive visitation policies do not reflect the most up-to-date science about either COVID-19 transmission, or the crucial role of family and caregivers in medical care, writes our Dr. Fahad Razak and his co-authors in the Globe and Mail. The authors explain why research supports less restrictive visitor policies in their op-ed. Read more.

10) Dr. Lisa Puchalski Ritchie examines the common causes of non-adherence to tuberculosis treatment

A recent study from our Dr. Lisa Puchalski Ritchie, Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, aimed to refine and evaluate an intervention designed to address common causes of non-adherence to tuberculosis treatment and health workers’ knowledge and skills training needs in Malawi. Read more about her team’s findings.