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COVID-19
The politics of vaccines - Portuguese Description: Manuel DaCosta - Canada has engaged army generals to carry out what is being called the most complex population engagement since World War II. That’s quite a claim given the planning and implementation it took to defeat the Nazis. Some political posturing may be at play, but the engagement of soldiers to carry out the distribution of the vaccine creates more psychological comfort to people as it creates an impression that populations are being protected. The bottom line remains that until arms are pricked with a needle and the vaccine takes effect, there will not be an alleviation of fear in the population. Canada has announced that we are getting 200,000 doses in December, but we have to assume that the supply for the entire country may take as long as a year to distribute and inoculate all its citizens. Although statements have been vague about who should be vaccinated first, the consensus appears to be that retirement homes, chronic care and long-term facilities should be the first, followed by Canadians over 80. Vaccines provide immunity to a disease. What it doesn’t provide is protection against the absurdity of those who choose to ignore the rules and medical recommendations. Anti-vaxxers and others who refuse to be vaccinated should not have the protection of our medical system. Their insanity will endanger the course being carved by those who choose to protect society. Therefore, they do not deserve the protection afforded to those who sacrifice their lives and financial assets to immunize the world against Covid. PRINT - Milenio Stadium - Toronto, 11/12/2020 - EDITORIAL, Portuguese Ottawa gets vaccine before Peel Region - Punjabi Description: Peel Region is the biggest COVID hotspot in Canada, but it is not among the first places to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, Toronto and Ottawa are first to get the vaccine. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the pandemic in Peel is like a leak in a ship and they need to plug that leak. He hopes that help is on the way where it is needed most. Ottawa is not even in a lockdown, and they had been assured that the areas that were most affected by the pandemic would get the vaccine first. If this is not corrected, it will ring of favouritism rather than decisions based on public health data. The reporter said Peel Region has 198 cases per 100,000 residents, Toronto has 116, and Ottawa has 29. Infection control epidemiologist Dr. Colin Furness said the bigger question is why Peel has not gotten resources, why they have not gotten funding and why there has not been surveillance testing. He wondered why they have been left to the terrible predicament they are in. It seems to be the continuation of a strategy, or lack of strategy, by which Peel has just been ignored. TV - OMNI TV Focus Punjabi - Toronto, 14/12/2020 - FEATURE, Punjabi Vaccination requirements vs. personal freedoms - Italian Description: While the COVID-19 vaccine will not be mandatory, employers may require their employees to get vaccinated. This may create a conflict between civic responsibility and personal freedom. Lawyer Sarah Coderre said many employers are considering making the vaccine mandatory for their employees. If there is no public health order with respect to vaccines, some employers will try to put in their own vaccination policy. This makes sense for some employers to keep their workplaces safe, but it may not be necessary for all employers, especially when employees can continue to work from home. Coderre said if an employee is dealing with vulnerable populations or a lot of people, like in schools, an employer could reasonably request vaccination. For employees at a call centre who can work from home, it may not be something an employer can enforce. Alberta has highlighted that vaccination will not be mandatory. Coderre said if the government makes vaccination mandatory and the employer is just enforcing it, an employee failing to get the vaccination could lose their job. The movement against the COVID-19 vaccine is growing. There is a need to fight disinformation, because indecision can prolong the pandemic. Coderre said the right to assemble and protest could be set aside for the anti-mask movement if the government decides it is essential to prevent people from clumping together in groups of more than 10 outside. TV - OMNI 1 TV 8:00 PM Italian News - Toronto, 14/12/2020 - FEATURE, Italian Second stage of COVID-19 vaccination should target those most likely to spread the virus, say some experts - Tamil Description: When it comes to the first stage of administering the vaccine for COVID-19, particularly when it's in short supply, there appears to be a consensus that policymakers should attempt to limit deaths and target the most vulnerable. But some researchers suggest that by the second stage, once more vaccine is available, that strategy should change to trying to prevent the spread. For stage 2 of the vaccination rollout, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended that recipients include: health-care workers not included in the initial rollout, residents and staff of all other congregate settings such as living quarters for migrant workers, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and essential workers, including police, firefighters and those in food production. RADIO - East FM 102.7 - Toronto, 14/12/2020 - News, Tamil Health Canada authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine - Chinese Description: Chauncey Jung - Canada reached a critical milestone in its fight against COVID-19 with the authorization of the first COVID-19 vaccine thanks to advances in science and technology, and an unprecedented level of global cooperation. Health Canada received Pfizer's submission on October 9, 2020 and after a thorough, independent review of the evidence, it has determined that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine meets the Department's stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada. The vaccine was authorized under Health Canada's Interim Order Respecting the Importation, Sale and Advertising of Drugs for Use in Relation to COVID-19. This process allowed Health Canada to assess information submitted by the manufacturer as it became available during the product development process, while maintaining Canada's high standards. Internet user 'griff' wrote: "No vaccine is absolutely safe and effective. Novavax has performed well recently, but it would take several months before the third phase is completed." Internet user 'Re Xin Chang' wrote: "There have already been news reports saying that people must get a second dose of the vaccine, otherwise the efficacy would be less than 50%. Also, the vaccine is by no means effective for everyone, only 89% of Asians have antibodies. The sequelae cannot be determined. If there are sequelae or death, can one seek compensation from the country?" WEB - 51.ca - Toronto, 10/12/2020 - COMMENTARY, Chinese Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force - Punjabi Description: The Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force was formed to raise awareness about COVID-19 in different languages and population groups. Naseeha Mental Health Social Worker Rufaida Mohammed said the Muslim COVID Task Force is comprised of medical experts, religious leaders and community organizations that have held a series of meetings to discuss these unprecedented times. She said there are a lot of implications for health that affect all Canadians, so it was particularly necessary for this task force to pull community members together. President of the Muslim Medical Association of Canada Dr. Aleem Hussain said young and old, every age group has WhatsApp and Facebook and some of the other social media platforms. Unfortunately, there is a lot of disinformation out there. We can't wish it away, so we have to make sure there is sound information coming from a reliable source. The Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force spread information over social media, a website and infographics on, for example, proper mask wearing and hand hygiene. In particular, the infographic showed how to wear a mask properly with different styles of Hijab. Dr. Hussain said it was helpful that the task force has many organizations that have great respect in the community. They bring prominence to the organizations, and people recognize that the messages coming out are supported by these well-established organizations. The task force was looking for volunteers. They have Health, Spiritual, Community, Communications, Advocacy & Outreach and Knowledge Translation committees and want to improve public health messaging, identify community concerns and advocate with decision-makers. One of their messages addressed how to tell others if one tests positive without shame or guilt. The task force is local, regional and national. Hussain asked viewers to find their information on social media and share the graphics and information. TV - OMNI TV Focus Punjabi - Toronto, 10/12/2020 - FEATURE, Punjabi IMMIGRATION Joe Biden’s presidential victory and possible effects in Canada - Sri Lankan Description: Raymond Rajabalan - Once Joe Biden is officially sworn in as the next president of the United States in January, we may expect various political and economic effects to take place in Canada. Donald Trump made wide-ranging changes to US immigration policy that had an effect on the flow of people to Canada, including a surge in asylum seekers who crossed irregularly into this country due to a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement. Canada has been trying to renegotiate that deal and might find a more willing partner in Biden – or the flow might dry up. Trump’s move to make it more difficult for people from certain countries to enter the US and for people to obtain skilled worker visas also saw a jump in immigration to Canada. Biden may reverse those changes, and there could be a subsequent “brain drain” from here. PRINT - Monsoon Journal - Toronto, 11/12/2020 - Article, English Immigration consultant talks about the possible impact of farmers’ agitation in India on Canadian immigration - Punjabi Description: Harjinder Thind - The host spoke to immigration consultant Aman Khaira. Khaira said that the Indian government’s treatment of protesting farmers can have an impact on Canadian immigration. He added that for asylum, people need to prove that they do not have state protection in their own country. He gave the example of how the Canadian government opened its door for people from Hong Kong. Khaira said that due to an increase in the number of asylum claims, it now takes 5-6 years for claims to be processed. He added that the Indian government’s laws are such that, if an asylum claim is rejected in Canada, the applicant will be unable to return to India because the Indian government refuses to issue a passport in that case. Khaira said that people are still being deported from Canada to India, but he said that those people who will be affected by the ongoing protests should make this evident in their pre-removal risk assessment. Khaira also answered questions about spousal applications. RADIO - Red FM 93.1 Punjabi Morning - Vancouver, 09/12/2020 - INTERVIEW, Punjabi Chinese international students complain: graduating means unemployment - Chinese Description: wenba-ca - Recently, many Toronto Chinese international students went on a forum and shared the challenges they anticipate to face after graduation. Some even openly requested help from others. One graduate said: “I graduated from U of T in summer 2020, but was unable to find a job for half a year. I have tried everything and no longer have my hopes up.” Another Chinese student who is a finance graduate said: “I have visited the career centre at my university numerous times, sent out multiple resumes, and attempted to network with people on Linkedin. It was very awkward and did not result in anything. If this continues, my resume will have a huge gap, and it will make it even harder for me to find a job later on. I am ashamed to return home to China to see my parents.” As of recently, 16,000 international students have petitioned for an extension to the post-graduate work permit (PGWP), and IRCC has finally promised to make adjustments. According to CIC News, Canadian immigration minister Marco Mendicino recently responded to the question about the extension of the PGWP. Mendicino promised: “No international students will be deported from Canada because of their work permits expiring. They will be allowed to restore status after their permit expires.” WEB - Vansky - Vancouver, 10/12/2020 - ARTICLE, Chinese Canada in global immigration - Tamil Description: Sami Appathurai - Canada has about 100,000 illegal immigrants at present. This is just a fraction compared to the 11 million undocumented immigrants in US. Before President Trump started deporting undocumented immigrants, the number was 13 million. Canada did not agree with the expectation of the US administration on deporting/closing doors for refugees, especially from Islamic countries. With Trump's deportation of undocumented immigrants, the headache began for Canada as many of those ordered to leave the US began entering Canada. This trend will continue in 2021 under the Biden administration. 49% of Canadians say that attention should be paid to undocumented immigrants entering from the US. Most of the undocumented immigrants entering Canada come from the US. PRINT - Canada Ulahathamilar - Toronto, 14/12/2020 - ARTICLE, Tamil Why choose to immigrate to Canada? - Farsi Description: Why is Canada, with long, very cold winters and high taxes in addition to the high cost of living, still an attractive country to emigrate to among immigrants from other countries? During Canadian summers, autumns and springs, the country is breathtakingly beautiful. From high mountains, majestic landscapes, diverse wildlife, over two million lakes and 300 billion trees, there is plenty to explore in the second-largest country in the world. Provincial governments typically guarantee just two weeks of paid vacation time every year. In addition to paid leave, employees in Canada are entitled to just five personal days, which are usually used for illness or emergencies. Only two countries offer less than Canada in terms of paid leave: Japan and the United States. WEB - icpimmigration - Montreal, 09/12/2020 - ARTICLE, Farsi
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