The Dose

As we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us are anxious to return to normal life, when we can hug our elderly parents or grandparents and once again gather in large groups. Many experts say that can't happen safely until a coronavirus vaccine is developed. In this unprecedented time, researchers around the world are working toward that goal, but it has to be done safely and follow a careful scientific process. Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, a vaccine expert at the the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, joins host Dr. Brian Goldman to help explain how close we are to an effective vaccine against COVID-19, the barriers we must overcome to get there, and what we need to do in the meantime.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, along with stressors from physical isolation to home schooling to grief, many people may feel their ability to manage is reaching its limits. Canadians are suffering from so much anxiety that Kids Help Phone has started a dedicated service to support adults, in addition to children and youth. Alisa Simon from Kids Help Phone joins The Dose host Dr. Brian Goldman to talk about issues you might be struggling with and ways to cope mentally and emotionally.

As physical distancing, handwashing and staying home have helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19, public health officials are starting to cautiously relax some of the self-isolation measures Canadians have been under for two months. But we're still in a pandemic, with no vaccine or treatment for the coronavirus. Host Dr. Brian Goldman welcomes infectious disease expert Dr. Allison McGeer back to The Dose to give you the latest facts about the risks and advice on how to stay as safe as possible in these uncertain times.

Of all the things we don’t understand about COVID-19, how it affects children is at the top of the list. There’s still a lot of confusion and misinformation about what role kids play in spreading the virus. That’s in part because there’s not a lot of strong science out there yet. In the meantime, parents are left to wonder about rare reports of severe cases and strange symptoms such as “COVID toes.' Meanwhile an Australian study published this week (not yet peer reviewed) suggests transmission of COVID-19 between teachers and students is rare in schools. So what does that mean for a potential return to the classroom, and does it signal anything about when it's okay to hug a grandparent or play with a friend? This week on The Dose, Dr. Goldman is joined by infectious disease specialist Dr. Shaun Morris from SickKids hospital in Toronto to answer the question “What do we really know about kids and COVID-19?” Dr. Morris is also a professor of paediatrics and public health at the University of Toronto.

Part two of Dr. Goldman's conversation with Dr. Lynora Saxinger, who joined us to talk about navigating all things summer. Yesterday we covered swimming, backyard parties, sports, patio drinks and more. Today, the great indoors: from cottages to weddings, malls, libraries, day camps, gyms and more.The infectious diseases specialist and associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton helps evaluate the risks.