As Quebec reflects on its pandemic response five years after COVID-19, concerns arise about preparedness for future viral threats. Medical experts highlight lessons learned, emphasizing the detrimental impact of disinformation on public unity and acceptance of health measures. While supply readiness has improved, challenges persist in long-term care facilities, raising alarms about potential budget cuts affecting essential recommendations. The article also addresses the need for reliable health information amidst rising skepticism towards institutions.
Assessing Quebec’s Readiness for a New Virus
As we mark five years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a pressing question arises: is Quebec prepared to confront a new viral threat? Medical professionals offer a varied perspective on the lessons gleaned from the health crisis that emerged in the spring of 2020. While the province may be better equipped to handle a potential pandemic, there are rising concerns about the public’s willingness to unite in response.
The Impact of Disinformation
Dr. Michel De Marchi, an intensivist at the Jewish General Hospital during the pandemic, recalls the harrowing experience of caring for patients on ventilators. “It was a relentless battle,” he reflects. Despite the painful memories, he is “certain” that if a new virus were to emerge, the same wave of solidarity witnessed in spring 2020 would likely be absent.
Gone are the hopeful slogans of “it’s going to be okay” and the colorful rainbows; disinformation has taken center stage, lamented Dr. De Marchi. This sense of unity was crucial in guiding the province through the pandemic, as noted by Benoît Mâsse, a professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal. “While we now possess pandemic experience, I am concerned about the lack of social acceptance for health measures or vaccination drives,” he cautions, anticipating increased resistance from the public.
Epidemiologist Kevin L’Espérance emphasizes the need to “depoliticize public health discussions and heed the voices of experts.” However, the dual role of Dr. Luc Boileau, serving as both the director of public health and deputy minister, adds complexity to this issue.
Supply Readiness and Long-Term Care Challenges
During the initial wave of COVID-19, a shortage of protective equipment, including N95 masks, hindered the healthcare system’s ability to combat the virus effectively. Today, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) claims to have established a “large reserve” and secured supply agreements with local manufacturers. Kevin L’Espérance acknowledges this as a significant step, noting, “The pandemic exposed our over-reliance on international suppliers.” However, he points out that Canada still lacks the capability to produce its own vaccines.
The MSSS asserts that it is finalizing a robust pandemic preparedness plan. Despite advancements, challenges remain in long-term care facilities, where thousands of seniors lost their lives during the pandemic. Dr. Sophie Zhang, co-chair of the Community of Practice for Physicians in Long-Term Care Homes, argues that these facilities still face significant shortcomings. Many aging buildings are equipped with inadequate ventilation and still feature double rooms, while staff shortages continue to be a pressing issue.
“Numerous recommendations have been made by institutions like the Coroner’s Office and the Ombudsman,” Dr. Zhang notes. “My concern is that budget cuts may jeopardize these improvements and hinder the implementation of critical recommendations.”
As we reflect on the lessons learned from the pandemic, Benoît Mâsse reminds us that the next viral outbreak could be entirely different. He highlights the troubling management of avian flu in the United States, where “very little data and information” is being released, despite millions of poultry being culled. The reliability of American health institutions raises new questions, particularly in light of the controversial rise of figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. within health organizations.