Evidence of meeting #23 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was virus.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Full Professor, Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Medical Microbiologist and Epidemiologist, CHU Sainte-Justine, As an Individual
For COVID, no, not yet, but papers were published for gastroenteritis vaccines.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Okay.
Finally, Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's chief public health officer, stated recently that there has never been, in history, the case of a pandemic that did not have a second wave.
If that's the case, can each witness tell us what their number one priority would be to help prepare for that inevitable second wave?
Perhaps we could start with Dr. Tremblay.
Professor, Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, As an Individual
I would make sure that our nursing homes and long-term health care facilities be totally transformed before the second wave.
We haven't finished the first wave, we're still seeing mortality in these centres. If there is a second wave, nothing is going to change because nothing has changed in personnel ratio, preparedness, ventilation.
This pandemic has been deadly for this patient population. Not for the rest of society, not for us. It's been deadly for elderly people. We need to do something quickly for these people.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
That brings round three to a close.
I'd like to thank all our witnesses for sharing so much of your time with us today, and for all your presentations and your excellent information.
Thank you to the members.
The meeting is adjourned.