From COVID treatments and financial supports to Canada’s efforts to contain monkeypox, Unity Health experts offered insights this week into our rapidly changing world. Here are our top media hits from July 16-22. 

Why Canadians with long COVID struggle to access financial aid
The Globe and Mail on July 21, 2022
Interviews with Dr. Gary Bloch and Sonya Torreiter

Patients with long COVID who can no longer work often struggle to access financial supports for people living with disabilities, says Dr. Gary Bloch, family physician at St. Michael’s, and Sonya Torreiter, speech-language pathologist at Providence Healthcare.

St. Michael’s researcher investigating the efficacy of COVID-19 treatments
CTV Toronto on July 20, 2022
Feature of research led by Dr. Andrew Pinto

The CanTreatCovid trial headed by Dr. Andrew Pinto will examine the effectiveness of current and new COVID-19 treatments. The study will also examine the impact of these treatments on long COVID, Dr. Pinto tells CTV Toronto.

Monkeypox cases continue to rise in Canada
CBC The National on July 20, 2022
Interview with Dr. Darrell Tan

More than 20,000 vaccinations for Monkeypox have been administered in Toronto and Montreal. Dr. Darrell Tan, infectious disease physician at St. Michael’s, tells CBC The National that it’s time to scale up vaccinations.

Limited vaccine supply could thwart Canada’s efforts to contain monkeypox
CBC News on July 21, 2022
Interview with Dr. Darrell Tan

Canada’s vaccine supply for Monkeypox appears to be limited and it would be ‘devastating’ if the outbreaks aren’t contained, warns Dr. Darrell Tan, infectious disease physician at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Canada’s health care leadership does not look like the population it serves. That’s a problem, but also an opportunity
The Globe and Mail on July 16, 2022
Opinion piece co-written by Dr. Fahad Razak

Dr. Fahad Razak calls for steps to address the lack of racialized health care leaders in Canada in an opinion piece in The Globe and Mail.

Diagnosed with monkeypox, he felt pain, exhaustion — and was frustrated by the lack of support
Toronto Star on July 18, 2022
Interview with Dr. Darrell Tan, St. Michael’s patient Len Tooley

Dr. Darrell Tan, infectious disease physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, speaks to the Toronto Star about the challenges of coordinating a public health response to the emerging monkeypox outbreak.

What a 4th COVID shot can do for you — and what it can’t
CBC News on July 16, 2022
Interview with Dr. Fahad Razak

Ontario has opened up fourth-dose boosters of the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 18+. Dr. Fahad Razak speaks to CBC News about what the science tells us about who benefits the most from a fourth dose of the vaccine.

Hot enough for you? How heat can affect your mental health
Toronto Star on July 18, 2022
Interview with Dr. Samantha Green

New research suggests heat stress can affect mental health. Dr. Samantha Green speaks to the Toronto Star about how high levels of “climate anxiety” and “climate grief” have been documented among young people.

How heat and climate change impact health
CP24 via July 19, 2022
Interview with Dr. Samantha Green

Climate change and heat waves can negatively impact the health of young children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, says Dr. Samantha Green, family physician at Unity Health.

Experts weigh in on Toronto’s monkeypox response
North York Mirror on July 20, 2022
Interview with Dr. Darrell Tan

Dr. Darrell Tan, infectious disease physician at St. Michael’s, discusses the public health response to the Monkeypox outbreak in The North York Mirror.