RFK Jr.'s firing of US immunization committee is worrisome Canadian scientists say
Canadian doctors and scientists say Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s firing of an immunization advisory committee south of the border is worrisome.
On Monday, the US health and human services secretary — a longtime anti-vaccine advocate — said he will appoint new members to the scientific group that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about vaccination.
Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan, said Tuesday that the move will foster more false anti-vaccine beliefs, not only in the US but also in Canada.
"It creates a culture in which anti-vaxx beliefs are more accepted and challenged a lot less. And also it creates an environment where there's an alternative to an evidence-based recommendation framework," she said.
Even though Kennedy's new appointments will make vaccine recommendations specific to the United States, any disinformation could also feed vaccine hesitancy among Canadians, Rasmussen said.
"We have a lot of the same anti-vaxx sentiment up here. Certainly this will at the very least empower (that)," she said.
Rasmussen said current measles outbreaks in both countries show the consequences of disinformation that leads to parents not immunizing their children against preventable diseases.
She said Canada could also experience some fallout if the new committee pulls back vaccination recommendations, because manufacturers may cut back on production and that could lead to shortages.
"There's a lot of potential for really, really damaging vaccine access throughout the US and potentially around the world because the US market has a big impact on what vaccine manufacturers are actually going to make and manufacture," she said.
"There's so many ways that this can end up really badly for vaccination in general. And it really causes me a lot of concern."
Rasmussen said the firing of the advisory committee members is just the latest in a series of anti-public health actions Kennedy has taken.
"It's a death by a thousand cuts," said Rasmussen, who is American and moved to Canada during the pandemic to work at the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
US President Donald Trump 's administration has already cut billions of dollars in research grants at the National Institutes of Health.
In May, the administration cancelled a contract with mRNA vaccine manufacturer Moderna to develop a vaccine against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including H5N1 avian flu.
"It just seems that there is a top-down approach that views mRNA vaccines in particular — vaccination in general, but mRNA vaccines in particular — with distrust and is trying to dismantle that particular avenue of medical research," said Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Montreal Children's Hospital.
Papenburg, who is a member of Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization but was not speaking on its behalf, said although the Moderna contract cancellation and the firing of the US vaccine advisory committee members are two separate actions, they're both concerning as Canada tries to prepare for potential human-to-human transmission of H5N1.
"Both are potentially very dangerous when it comes to America's and the world's ability to respond to emerging infectious diseases for which vaccines could be a useful medical countermeasure," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fading into the background
Opinion The number of people in Canada experiencing homelessness continues to climb despite increased government funding. This prompted dozens of experts from across the country to gather at a landmark forum convened by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) to look for answers to help the 34,000 Canadians who — on any given night — don't have a decent place of their own. The main outcome of this gathering, the new report Housing First: What's Next?, released this week, confirms what we've witnessed firsthand: there are proven and effective approaches to end chronic homelessness. The report asserts that Housing First — a Canadian-made strategy that addresses housing insecurity — is a proven method to effectively keep people stably housed over the long term. As a country, how do we stand by as our neighbours cycle through emergency rooms, shelters, and jails? Why do we settle for high-cost band-aid interventions when a permanent fix is already within reach? It's like searching for reading glasses perched on our head. We can't expect people to recover from mental illness or addiction without the dignity of a door that locks. Securing safe, affordable housing is the crucial first step. It's a moral imperative, and fiscally responsible. The principle is straightforward: offer permanent housing in regular units scattered throughout communities — no strings attached — then deliver tailored supports for mental health, substance misuse, employment, and community integration. Rather than requiring people to 'earn' housing through demonstrated 'good behaviour,' Housing First posits – correctly – that a safe place to live is foundational for recovery. Just as we wouldn't expect someone with pneumonia to get better in the rain, we can't expect someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia to recover while navigating shelter waitlists. We were both heavily involved in At Home/Chez Soi, a federally funded $110 million project launched by the MHCC, which ran from 2008 to 2013. It found that chronic homelessness could be ended permanently for most people by combining housing with portable support. With decades of experience under our belts, our conviction has not wavered. Like the dozens of experts who participated in the workshop that led to the report, we continue to believe Housing First should be adopted and scaled up as best practice. When people have stable housing and access to community supports, we see measurable results: fewer hospitalizations, reduced emergency room visits, and decreased police interactions. These outcomes help offset the cost of implementing Housing First programs. While other countries have embraced this Canadian best practice — Finland and Norway have nearly eliminated chronic homelessness using a Housing First approach — we're still working to fully realize what we ourselves have pioneered. Despite its proven success, implementing Housing First is hard work. It requires carefully coordinating health, housing, justice, and social services that typically operate in silos. It forces us to confront the uncomfortable reality that our housing market has become the privilege of the few, rather than a basic human right. But these challenges can be overcome. During our national forum, experts agreed that an ever-shifting landscape requires an equally nimble response. Our report serves as a call to action and a road map: we need Housing First programs to follow the At Home/Chez Soi model, while upping the ante by collecting better data, creating culturally appropriate supports, establishing improved workforce training, boosting leadership, and increasing public engagement. Creating more deeply affordable housing is also urgent, encouraging private market and not-for-profit landlords to support individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness — people who are deserving of equitable access to housing opportunities. Taken together, we know this will transform lives. Ironically, when Housing First works well, you don't see it. People integrate into communities as tenants and neighbours, a refreshing contrast to the increasing visibility of suffering on our streets. We can all contribute to meaningful change. By understanding evidence-based approaches and working within our communities to prioritize and implement them, we create pathways to housing stability. Each of us has a role in fostering communities where everyone has a place to call home. Above all, we must never turn away from suffering, especially knowing the proven remedy is in plain sight. Tim Aubry is Emeritus Professor at the University of Ottawa and Co-Chair of the Canadian Housing First Network, and Jino Distasio, is a professor at the University of Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Unlocking ‘gateway benefit'
Opinion Michelle MacIver didn't hear about the many government benefits available for her son, who has a disability, from a financial institution or a family physician. Rather, she heard about them through word of mouth. 'I was talking to other parents who told me about the DTC (Disability Tax Credit),' says the Portage la Prairie mother of two young boys. That began a multi-year journey of navigating doctor's offices, government websites, social media and various organizations to understand not just how to apply for the credit, but also whether her son would even qualify. 'There is a lot of misinformation — like people on social media telling me my son wouldn't qualify,' she says, noting it took two years before she finally sent the 16-page tax document to Canada Revenue Agency. MacIver's glad she did. Not only does the credit provide more than $3,000 in tax savings annually, provincial and federal, it is also the 'gateway benefit,' she says. It leads to other programs aimed at providing financial support for Canadians with disabilities and their families, such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). Those qualifying for the credit will also be eligible for the new Canada Disability Tax Benefit, which starts next month, paying adults with disabilities up to $200 a month, depending on family net income. While that won't help the MacIver family, given her son is nine years old, it will be a small boost to many Canadians with disabilities. The poverty rate for people with disabilities is about twice the national average, according to Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty. What's more, they face larger costs. The cost of living is estimated to be about 30 per cent higher, given many require additional medical equipment and supportive care, a study from Inclusion Canada found. Federal and provincial disability benefit programs are designed to help address these issues, but many are underused, including the gateway tax credit DTC. A Statistics Canada report estimates most Canadians with disabilities have not received the credit. Take-up among those with the most severe impairments is only about four in 10. Use is estimated at about only about 20 per cent for those with severe disabilities, a little more than 10 per cent for Canadian moderate impairments and less than five per cent for people with mild disabilities. These Canadians are not only missing out tax savings; they are forgoing tens of thousands of government monies to help them save for the future through an RDSP. 'It's not being maximized well at all,' says Sara Kinnear, Winnipeg-based director of tax and estate planning at IG Wealth Management. She points to the low take-up of the RDSP, which provides annual grants and bonds to individuals with disabilities age 49 and younger. Statistics Canada data shows the use rate is about 35 per cent. That likely does not reflect the total number of disabled Canadians missing out because the gateway DTC, necessary to open an RDSP, has a much lower take-up rate. One key reason for the low usage is the complexity involved in being approved for the DTC, says Liss Cairns, program manager with the Plan Institute in Vancouver, a non-profit that supports people with disabilities. Applying for the credit is complicated, requiring a health-care provider to fill out and sign the form to confirm an individual's disability. Many physicians now charge fees in the hundreds of dollars to do so, though Cairns adds new federal funding will help cover those costs. Other challenges include public perception, especially for the RDSP. Another issue is awareness even for individuals, who have the DTC and are eligible to open an RDSP. 'Many think, 'What value is this for me? I can't save anything,'' Cairns says. Even individuals who cannot contribute their own money to an RDSP could be missing out. They may be eligible for the Canada disability savings bond whereby the federal government contributes $1,000 annually to their RDSP to a lifetime maximum of $20,000. Of course, individuals and their families able to contribute to an RDSP are eligible for the Canada disability savings grant. A matching grant, it provides up to $3,500 annually from the feds ($3 of benefit for every $1 contributed) to a lifetime maximum of $70,000. Both the bond and grant are pared back gradually as household net income rises. The bond is eliminated when income exceeds about $56,000, and the matching grant is reduced to $1,000 maximum per year when income exceeds about $111,000. 'Overall, it's a great program, but it's also probably the most complicated registered program,' Kinnear says, noting individuals must be wary of early withdrawals for the plan. Money withdrawn from an RDSP within 10 years of the last grant or bond may be subject to steep penalties, she adds. It's also important to start as soon as possible not only because money in the RDSP can compound tax-free. Grants and bonds can only be received up to age 49 though individuals can contribute to their plan up to age 59. 'The design is really to provide retirement savings for these individuals,' Kinnear says, adding all financial institutions can help set up an RDSP. Another resource is the Plan Institute. MacIver leaned on the organization, which provides free assistance, to access the gateway DTC, which allowed her to open the RDSP for her son. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Today, she is a word-of-mouth advocate, helping other parents of children with disabilities. 'Generally, their response is: 'I had no idea this all existed.'' But they're often elated they do exist. If only these many programs were easier to access. 'We know it can be very complex and overwhelming,' Cairns says. 'But we also see the amazing financial empowerment that this can bring.' Joel Schlesinger is a Winnipeg-based freelance journalist joelschles@
Global News
17 hours ago
- Global News
B.C. desperately needs a 2nd forensic psychiatric hospital, report finds
B.C. needs a second forensic psychiatric hospital to deal with a constant demand for beds, a new report has found. A forensic psychiatric hospital is a facility where people who have committed a crime or been involved with the law have been found not criminally responsible for their actions. Under Canadian law, a person is found not criminally responsible if a judge finds they committed a criminal act under the influence of mental illness and they cannot possess the capacity to understand that their behaviour was wrong. There is only one forensic psychiatric hospital in the province, located in Coquitlam and known as Colony Farm. The facility has 190 beds. The province also has six forensic clinics for people who have received a conditional discharge, where they do not have to attend Colony Farm but must take part in monitoring and ongoing treatments. Story continues below advertisement The annual report from the British Columbia Review Board states that the number of people found not criminally responsible remains the same as the previous year, which remains the highest it has been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the number of accused people discharged by the board who have had their cases closed has decreased from pre-pandemic years. 'It is likely that the impact of dramatically reduced community-based services for forensic patients,' the report states. As a result, the board found that Colony Farm is under constant pressure as more new accused people are being admitted than are being discharged. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Of course, the Board cannot discharge patients when it is unsafe to do so,' the report states. 'Further, the Board regularly hears of accused persons who are in the community but are not complying with the Board's orders. In many cases, these accused ought to be returned to custody.' With limited beds available, the board said an obvious solution is a second forensic psychiatric hospital. 'The Board notes that Ontario has 11 forensic hospitals serving a population of 15.9 million. B.C., by contrast, has one forensic hospital serving a population of 5.6 million,' according to the report. Story continues below advertisement 4:14 B.C. premier comments on Vancouver Chinatown stabbings Colony Farm was thrust into the spotlight again after a man who was on an unescorted leave from there stabbed three people at a festival in Chinatown in 2023. Blair Evan Donnelly pleaded not guilty earlier this year in the stabbing case. However, this was not the first time he had been involved with the law. In 2006, Donnelly said God wanted him to kill his 16-year-old daughter, Stephanie, when they were living in Kitimat, B.C. According to court documents, on Nov. 23, 2006, Donnelly went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, stabbing his daughter several times, first in the chest and then in the neck. After the attack, Donnelly went to the church and prayed, according to the documents. Story continues below advertisement On Jan. 23, 2008, a judge found Donnelly not criminally responsible due to mental disorder in the second-degree murder of his daughter. He was sent to Colony Farm. In 2009, Donnelly was before the courts again in Surrey. That file is currently sealed, but according to a 2011 report in the Vancouver Sun, the B.C. Review Board granted Donnelly unescorted leave and a violent incident involving a weapon took place. The story also said that in February 2009, Donnelly was granted unsupervised community visits up to 28 days in length. It was during one of these visits in October later that year that he stabbed a friend and was held criminally responsible for that incident. In 2023, then-Vancouver police Chief Const. Adam Palmer said Donnelly was out on a day pass when he allegedly stabbed three people in an unprovoked attack at the family event in Chinatown. Donnelly could go to trial later this year.
