Due
to mandated
COVID-19
restrictions,
all in-person
gatherings
are suspended
for the time
being.
_________________________
Marg
Black
Tri-Churches
Parish Nurse
As
our Parish
Nursing office
is still closed
at this time,
please reach out
to us by phone
at (416)
494-5364
or contact any
of the agencies
below:
Toronto Mental
Health Support -
211
Seniors Help
Line - (416)
217-2077
Seniors Safety
Line - (416)
899-1011
Crisis Help -
crisisservicescanada.ca
_________________________
Health
Tip
for the week
of February 7,
2021
Monoclonal
Antibodies for
COVID-19
As
we struggle with
another lockdown
and wait for
vaccines, it is
easy to get
depressed,
especially in
this cold and
darker time of
year. And
recently we have
learned that
some of our
promised
vaccines
(Pfizer) won’t
arrive as
promised due to
upgrading of
their
manufacturing
plant. However,
there are some
other things
that we haven’t
heard much
about. Thanks to
Mary Macnamara
for telling me
about something
she saw on TV. I
researched this
topic and found
out what is
happening with
it in Canada.
I am familiar
with the use of
monoclonal
antibodies in
cancer
treatments but
had not known
they are now
being developed
for use with
COVID-19.
“Monoclonal
antibodies are
laboratory-made
proteins that
mimic the immune
system’s ability
to fight off
viruses. Eli
Lilly
co-developed
this therapy
with AbCellera
Biologics, a
Vancouver-based
technology
company that
searches,
decodes, and
analyses natural
immune systems
to find
antibodies that
can be developed
to prevent and
treat disease.”
(from Government
of Canada news
release). This
treatment is
directed against
the spike
protein of COVID
virus, designed
to block its
attachment to
and entry into
human cells. It
is to help
people with
mild to
moderate
disease who
are at risk of
progressing to
severe
symptoms. It
is given
intravenously
as soon as
possible after
a positive
COVID test and
within 10 days
of the onset
of symptoms.
The federal
government has
signed an
agreement with
Eli Lilly for up
to 26,000 doses
to be available
by February
2021. Initial
research has
shown this
therapy to help
reduce
hospitalizations
and Emergency
Room visits by
people who test
COVID positive -
a valuable
addition to our
arsenal against
COVID, but the
end is not in
sight yet.
As always, we
need to remember
that our God is
with us even if
we walk through
the valley of
the shadow of
death. No matter
how depressed,
lonely, or
afraid you are,
always keep in
mind that we
don’t walk this
walk alone. The
God who loves us
so much that He
sent His own Son
to die for our
sins and to be
resurrected to
show us that
life continues
is always there
with us. Let
that be the hope
that you cling
to throughout
the duration of
this
pandemic.
Another new
treatment has
been added to
our arsenal
against this
virus which
gives us more
hope for the
future. However
until most
people have
developed
immunity to the
disease, we need
to follow the
rules on the
poster below.
Thanks to
Margaret &
Peter Heyland
for this. I
wanted to leave
you with a
smile.
Marg Black,
Parish Nurse
_________________________
About COVID-19
Why
Social-Distancing is
Vital?
Symptoms?
fever, cough,
difficulty breathing,
pneumonia in both
lungs. How does it
spread?
Through respiratory
droplets spread when
you cough/sneeze;
close personal contact
(e.g. touching or
shaking hands);
touching something
with the virus on it,
then touching your
mouth, nose or eyes
before washing your
hands. Protection of
yourself and others?
Wash your hands often
(after coughing,
sneezing, blowing your
nose,
touching common-use
areas,
such as door handles,
elevator buttons,
etc.)
with soap and water
for at least 20
seconds
(back and front,
special attention to
nail areas);
use hand sanitizer if
soap and water are not
available;
avoid touching your
eyes, nose or mouth
with unwashed hands
avoid close contact
with people who are
sick;
cough or sneeze into
your sleeve instead of
into your hands;
and
stay home to avoid
spreading the illness
to others.
_________________________
