President - Canadian Medical Assoc. Public health and maternity doctor. Fmr med lead - COVID vaccine task force. Passionate re MD wellness & public health.
I am so humbled, honoured, and thankful to the MB docs who have voted me the CMA president-elect nominee.
I can't wait to get to work advocating for positive changes to our health systems.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
🗳️ The results are in:
@jossreimer
is the next CMA president-elect nominee.
The chief medical officer for
@WinnipegRHA
, Dr. Reimer believes in the power of optimism, physician engagement and collaboration to transform
#CDNhealth
.
Has anyone else noticed a sudden absence of antivaxx bots since Twitter was restricted in Russia? 🤨 After the massive number of bot responses to my
#COVID19Vaccines
misinformation tweet, the silence is dramatic.
#VaccinesWork
I am very excited to be able to tell you all that I'm running for president elect of the Canadian Medical Association.
I am so passionate about the health of Canadians and the wellbeing of physicians. I would be honoured to represent physicians to advocate for better systems.
If my pants and underwear (and many masks) can't prevent us from smelling farts, then how can they prevent transmission of disease?
Short answer, fart molecules are way smaller than viruses and way WAY smaller than respiratory droplets.
Happy to provide an update for those wondering about AstraZeneca: If you got a first shot of AZ, your second dose will be an mRNA vaccine – either Pfizer or Moderna. (1/7)
Great news in the cancer world! Recent study found that an mRNA vaccine against melanoma decreased the risk of spread or death by 62%.
The vaccine is individually tailored to fight the specific DNA of each person's cancer! Wild stuff.
As a doctor, I have committed my career to saving lives and helping people be healthy.
-Gender-affirming care saves lives.
- Regret over gender-affirming care is very rare.
- Surgical affirmation is rarely offered to minors.
Whether at home, at school, or in medical settings, young people do best when they are recognized and accepted for who they are. We stand with the 2SLGBTQ+ community today and every day.
Time for your regular reminder that doctors did not receive any money from government or pharma companies to promote the Covid vaccines.
There are 96,000 doctors in Canada alone and another 1,000,000 in the USA. No one has enough money to bribe us all.
Two for two! I’d like to thank every single person who has worked and volunteered at our clinics across the province. The process of getting my second dose could not have been easier, and it is all because of you.
#ThankYou
#ProtectMB
Got my
#moderna
#BivalentBooster
! Thank you to the amazing staff at the RBC vaccine site.
Quite emotional to be back here. Thousands received a vaccine every day at this site. This team achieved things I never thought possible.
It will forever be a special place for me.
Yesterday a package arrived for me. The conversation went like this
Guy: package for Dr Reimer?
Me: Yes
Guy: can you sign here?
Me: signs my name
Guy: I just need your last name
Me: Reimer
Guy: oh you have the same last name
Me: I am Dr Reimer
Guy: oh it's for you?
Sigh
🙏🙏🙏
Shoutout to healthcare workers working their asses off this long weekend. Things are hard: COVID still spreading & adding to your workload...but you keep showing up for Manitobans.
You inspire me to work harder every day to find ways to help make work better for you.
Special thanks to all the healthcare workers, but especially those in the ERs, for your hard work. Across the country ERs are packed, with no inpatient beds to send people to. Yet you all keep showing up to work and doing your best for your community.
💜🧡👩🏻⚕️🏥🚑👩🏿⚕️🩵💛
shout out to all the physicians, scientists, nurses, medical staff, STEM students, and more who are maintaining their full time jobs AND taking the time to relay scientific information to the public & dismantle misinformation.
we see you. we thank you.
"This is a medical decision, and no one should be involved except the child, their parents if the child is not a mature minor, the physician... and other health care team members. The doctor-patient relationship is inviolable and sacrosanct. Full stop."
Statement from the AMA Section of Pediatrics regarding government proposal to restrict medical treatments available to pediatric patients who identify as trans gender
For all of you making New Year's Resolutions: friendly reminder that the only cleanse you need to consider is a bath or shower. Your body handles toxins perfectly well all by itself and anything that claims to be removing toxins from your body is a scam.
Happy regular eating!
I have depression. Daily physical activity, including running several times a week, is an important part of maintaining my mental health.....but even more so are my antidepressants.
Running has been helpful for my mental health, for sure. But it does not cure depression.
I know we are all sick of hearing about COVID and more sick of having to worry about COVID.
It looks like we will be doing annual COVID boosters just like influenza. Compared to what we've had to do these last few years, this is no big deal. Get boosted! (And get your flu shot)
I am loving all of these Tweets tagging me in your child’s vaccine photos! What a wonderful celebration to be a part of. Please keep tagging me so I can see all of these happy moments.
Some good news to share on a Friday! MB has now administered over 800,000 doses of
#COVID19Vaccines
. These last 100,000 doses were administered in a single week, which is a new record for our province. Book your vaccine today and be part of the next 100,000 doses!
#ProtectMB
As of today, over 800,000 doses of
#COVID19Vaccines
have been administered in Manitoba, with the last 100,000 doses being administered in only 7 days. Book your vaccine appointment today to help keep you, your family, and your community safe.
#ProtectMB
Hudson Bay by Churchill has not frozen over yet this season. One of the elders said this is the first time in her 80 years that she's seen open water at this time of year.
Climate change is the biggest threat to polar bears and also to human health.
It's that time of year. The new COVID vaccine is here and there is a dose with your name on it!
Get the COVID vaccine and flu vaccine at the same time at your local pharmacy or doctor's office.
Pro tip: go after your volleyball game, not before.
#VaccinesWork
I see a lot of people saying electric vehicles are no good in a Canadian winter. But I have to say, the instant heat, never having to get out of the car to fill up, and never worrying about it not starting in the cold has been ace. 10/10 do recommend
Income is the number one determinant of health. Working on our healthcare systems is critical. But dollars spent on social supports have a bigger impact on health. I'm overjoyed to see basic income being studied by Senate and in particular to see expert Dr Forget on the team.
This is exactly it. A very very loud but thankfully small group of people & bots are yelling about indoctrination. No one is trying to tell kids to be transgender (who would ever try to tell someone else what their gender is.... right?).
We just want transgender kids to live.
A 2018 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found transgender youth who are able to use their preferred names and pronouns reported a 34 per cent drop in suicidal thoughts and a 65 per cent decrease in suicide attempts
Pleased to meet
@CanadianPM
. Progress made re: bilat agreement in Manitoba. We also talked re:
@CMA_Docs
statement on gender identity.
At the ❤️ of these convos: improving
#AccessToCare
. Everyone deserves access to medical support they need, free from political interference.
I've struggled to figure out what to say about the
@WinnipegNews
article about my depression. But this piece captures a lot of what I hoped to convey.
You are not alone, you are not powerless, and I'll add, there is hope.
So while SUVs and trucks are a very real danger on all of our roads, I'm left wondering how much of people's perception of danger downtown is just good old fashioned racism.
Many people may be wondering how well the
#COVID19Vaccines
work against the
#Omicron
variant, which is the dominant strain in Manitoba, and globally at this time. (1/13)
Private long term care facilities: Studies show that private facilities have higher morbidity and mortality rates than public facilities. We should have the same high expectations for quality of care across the board. All facilities should be accredited, public or private.
Wishing you all good health this holiday season. The best gift you can give yourself this holiday is a
#COVID19Vaccine
to help protect yourself, and your loved ones. Book an appointment for your 1st, 2nd or 3rd dose as soon as possible.
#StaySafe
We have much to be thankful for in MB this
#Thanksgiving
. We have safe and effective vaccines that are helping us get back to the daily activities we have all been missing. MB is an enviable position in its vaccination effort, with over 81% having been fully vaccinated. (1/3)
What a great picture. Thank you to the team at St B for taking care of Manitobans today and every day.
And a shoutout to all the healthcare workers caring for all of us today!
For many of us, seeing Winnipeg as
#3
is not surprising. I've said for years that this city offers the best blend of everything Canada has to offer. Great food, culture, housing prices, schools, nature access, tree canopy, commute time etc.
Embrace winter and it's even better.
Looking for the perfect place to call home is a journey influenced by countless factors. Recognizing this, The Globe and Mail has put together its first data-driven ranking of Canada's most livable cities:
Over the last 40 years, 10,000s of scientific peer reviewed studies have been published.
Climate change is real. It's caused by humans. It's causing harm to our health. And, yes, we are sure.
I work on Main street, north of the Disraeli bridge. I run or bike to work. People (usually people who do not walk around in that area) often tell me how dangerous that is.
Here is my experience :
Our vaccine campaign would not be the success it is without the expertise, compassion and care provided by our nurses. I want to thank you for all that you are doing to help stop
#Covid19MB
, and for caring for Manitobans.
#NursesWeek2021
Please everyone, get your booster if it's been more than 6 months since your last dose or infection. We're heading into respiratory virus season & the
#Booster
(plus the influenza vaccine) will literally save lives; not to mention ease pressure on our hospitals.
#VaccinesWork
The Bivalent vaccines are working. The data is profound and demonstrates full breadth of protection that really is strong and can possibly last for sometime (tbd). This vaccine WILL do well.
Physicians choose their profession because they want to make a real difference by helping others. I want thank physicians for the care they provide across
#Manitoba
and for the work they are doing to help
#ProtectMB
.
#NationalPhysiciansDay
I’ve been doing a lot of of media over the past few days, speaking about
@cma_docs
’s new draft recommendations on public and private healthcare. Here are the things no one has asked me about. 👇
Private surgical centres: Privately run services (even when publicly funded) tend to be more expensive, with lower quality of care. You should expect your government to do their research, before investing in private facilities.
If you are unvaccinated, an Omicron infection probably doesn’t protect you against any other variants. New studies based out of Austria and South Africa looked at the antibodies produced after people were infected with Omicron. 🔗s in the 🧵 below. (1/9)
Thank you Lt Governor and
@HStefansonMB
for the honour of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. I feel so privileged to have met Lt Governor Filmon before she retires.
To the vaccine team - this represents your incredible work. I'm so proud of what you've done!
Vaccines are the most researched and monitored medical intervention we have. Every medication you have ever been prescribed or have taken over the counter, you took with less safety data to support it.
I’d like to address this misconception
Covid vaccines were studied in multiple randomized trials (vaccine vs control) BEFORE roll out
>13 billion doses have now been given
Vaccine side effects, if they occur, usually occur within days to weeks:
1/3
Vaccination has played an incredible role in helping to
#ProtectMB
. I hope that everyone understands the power of your decision to get vaccinated to help protect yourselves and your community. (1/5)
I’m still getting a lot of questions about how the
#COVID19Vaccines
affect fertility. This topic has caused a lot of worry and fear. Let me be clear, these vaccines will not affect future pregnancy or your fertility. (1/7)
Half of all adults in Manitoba have now received a dose of
#COVID19vaccine
! Way to go Manitoba! This is a major milestone, but just one of many to come. Book your appointment today and help
#ProtectMB
.
Over 50% of people 18+ in Manitoba have now been vaccinated with their first dose to help
#ProtectMB
. To date, more than 629,943 doses of
#COVID19Vaccines
have been administered in our province.
Thanks to all of the incredible staff at the Winnipeg supersite, where I got my
#COVID19
vaccine yesterday. I did it to keep me, my loved ones and my patients healthy. What's your reason for immunization?
#Covid19MB
#ProtectMB
Happy holidays to our fantastic health care workers. 2022 has been a challenging year but you've continued to step up & provide amazing care to Manitobans every day. Thank you!
I hope you find time to relax and spend time with people you love or doing things that bring you joy.
Pretty amazing finding - new analysis from Scotland shows NO CASES OF CERVICAL CANCER in women vaccinated at 12 or 13 years of age. The HPV vaccine has been remarkably effective. Exactly what was expected, but nevertheless fantastic news.
Happy New Year!
Here's to making positive changes for our health and our health systems in 2024.
Wishing you all health and happiness this year.
@CMA_Docs
Genuine question for people who believe big pharma paid off everyone. If big pharma paid off all the doctors (note there are over 9 million of us), government officials & experts AND no one in the public paid a cent for the vaccine.....then how is big pharma making 💰💰??
Public health measures prevented cases of COVID and saved lives.
Were there harms from these measures? Without a question. But public health did what they always do and created approaches that helped the most people while causing the lowest amount of harm possible.
Canadian study finds COVID measures were effective in reducing cases, hospitalizations, mortality rate
Policies “were generally effective in mitigating the impact of the health consequences of COVID-19.”
“It is crucial to raise public awareness of the
If there is any takeaway message about Children's ER wait times, it's the importance of getting your kids vaccinated for Influenza and COVID.
You never want your child to be so sick they need to go to the ER but now more than ever you don't want them to end up in the emerg.
I just came from a meeting with Critical Care leadership.
They have seen a big increase in ICU admissions for Influenza.
Please get vaccinated. I don't want to see any of you on a ventilator.
Happy Canadian Women Physicians Day!
Did you know that if your doctor is a woman you are :
- less likely to require emergency care
- 4 % less likely to die in hospital
- less likely to have surgical complications
- less likely to die after surgery
Let’s talk about the effectiveness of the
#COVID19Vaccine
against severe illness. In many parts of the world there has been a surge in Delta variant cases and some recent data out of Israel is also causing some people to be concerned. (1/14)
Going to get a
#COVID19Vaccine
after having
#Covid19MB
? Good idea, but wait until you are feeling better. There is no need to rush, but please don’t wait too long either. Learn more ⬇️ (1/10)
#ThankYou
Manitoba for getting vaccinated, and a huge thanks to the team who is working hard behind the scenes to make this record of almost 37k doses in one day possible!
We've now administered 1.3M doses of
#COVID19Vaccines
in Manitoba and expect to administer nearly ⭐️37,000⭐️ doses today at sites across the province – the most doses in one day to date!
#ThankYou
to everyone who is rolling up their sleeves to help
#ProtectMB
.
But know that choosing to get the AstraZeneca vaccine was, and still is, the right decision. You were able to protect yourself and your loved ones from
#COVID19
as soon as you could. You prevented infections, you prevented hospitalizations and you prevented deaths. (5/7)
This is new advice from Manitoba public health! Everyone, no matter what year you were born, should make sure they've had a measles vaccine before travelling.
If you were born before 1970, it is now recommended to get one dose of measles vaccine especially if traveling. If born after 1970 make sure you have for 2 doses
Virtual care: I love virtual care. All Canadians should have access to timely primary care. It’s important we do it in a way that is sustainable, supports the system as a whole, and doesn’t take away from other types of care.
Great pride festival today in Winnipeg. Beautiful weather for the bulk of the day so I can't complain about getting thunderstormed at the end.
Before and after
🌈☀️🌦️🏳️🌈
Phenomenal paper just published in Science persuasively demonstrating that EBV causes most if not all multiple sclerosis.
Phenomenal epidemiological design and technical achievement. 👏
Thanks
@Matthew_Froese
for an excellent visual of the much higher risks of COVID for those unvaccinated. For people skeptical about the vaccine, take a look at this to give you more info about how well it really works to protect Manitobans.
Vaccination impact numbers for Manitoba, Sep 19 - Oct 30.
New data is public, but thanks to
@ScottBilleck
for sharing earlier to make this possible!
Relative rates for unvaccinated ppl, adj for population:
- new cases 6.6x
- hospitalizations 11.4x
#Covid19MB
#covidMB
Get your bivalent booster. It literally saves lives.
Boosted individuals were 14x less likely to die than unvaccinated people and 3x less likely than unboosted people.
#VaccinesWork
COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Persons Aged ≥12 Years by Receipt of Bivalent Booster Doses and Time Since Vaccination — 24 U.S. Jurisdictions, October 3, 2021–December 24, 2022 | MMWR
Everyone over the age of 18 who is now eligible to be vaccinated at a super-site or pop-up clinic! When you get immunized, you are doing your part to help us stay safe, get back to normal, and
#ProtectMB
.
All adults 18+ are now eligible for the
#COVID19Vaccine
at super-sites and pop-up clinics. Find the appointment closest to you and book your appointment today at . Help
#ProtectMB
.
#Covid19MB
Something important to note is that every single medical association across the country signed this statement.
Decisions about what treatment is best for you should be made by you with the guidance of your doctor & other regulated healthcare professionals.
#PatientsNotPolitics
Medical associations from coast to coast are deeply concerned about any government proposal that would restrict access to evidence-based medical care for patients, including for the transgender population.
#CDNhealth
#CDNpoli
Our statement:
No, doctors are not dying from the COVID vaccine.
It's incredibly cruel to create these lies that families are having to respond to while in the midst of their grief.
Thank you for investigating,
@Ash_Stewart_
A big conspiracy theory says the Covid vaccine could have killed 80+ Canadian doctors
I spent months investigating & speaking with the doctor's families. Most died from heart attacks, cancer or suicide
But it won't go away. And those behind it are Canadian doctors themselves🧵
For children aged 12+ to be fully immunized by back to school, they need to get their 1st shot by Tues. July 27. If they haven’t yet, make them a Pfizer appointment today and help to
#ProtectMB
. (1/2)
Only 70% of students eligible for the
#COVID19Vaccine
in grades 7-12 are currently fully immunized. Good vaccine uptake is going to be key in reducing the risk of outbreaks so we can help keep students and staff in the classroom. (1/7)
46 million vaccinated adults.
No increased risk of heart attacks or clots for mRNA vaccines.
The “died suddenly” folks and other vaccine fear-mongers owe a lot of people a fulsome apology…
Congratulations to all the kids (and their parents) who have been or are about to be vaccinated! I’ve been hearing some of the same questions being repeated about the plan for this vaccine so I wanted to do a quick Q&A here ⬇️ (1/9)
True: IUDs are great. Many more ppl should have one
Also true: My 1st IUD was one of the most painful experiences of my life
As a doc I have inserted many IUDs. It took me years to realize that not offering pain control was absurd, sexist & sometimes traumatizing.
Story time ⬇️
🎉🎉🎉🎉
Exciting news! The bivalent is now approved in Canada!
I look forward to seeing how many doses Manitoba gets and who is eligible first.
Can't wait to get my booster dose 💉
(1/4) Health Canada has authorized an adapted version of the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine that targets two coronavirus strains, for adults 18 years of age and older.
Our draft recommendations are based on what we’ve heard from thousands of patients and physicians across the country and evidence in the medical literature. We’re advocating for the best possible care, for all Canadians.
Do you still have questions, or feel unsure about getting the vaccine? Let's talk about the
#COVID19vaccine
development process and why I am confident that getting the vaccine is the right decision & a safe one. (1/13)
"United Nurses of Alberta also strongly believes appropriate medical treatment for all patients must be determined by qualified health care practitioners based on clinical evidence, not politicians who want to meddle in medical decisions for political and ideological reasons."
Nurses are naturally angered by the assault on human rights of a tiny minority of Albertans at the heart of this policy, and the hurt and damage to our fellow citizens it is bound to cause.
Read UNA's full statement:
#ableg
#abhealth
There was a time when we thought it would be impossible to ban smoking in public places, especially restaurants and bars. But now it's hard to imagine that it could ever be allowed.
What other "impossible" things can public health achieve? Sky's the limit for public health.
Happy National Physician's Day! 🩺🎉
I love what I do but I see far too many colleagues struggling under immense pressure without support. I am inspired by physicians in Canada everyday. Their dedication is incredible; like my friend who told me she is doing 7 24h shifts in May.
Ok so the next time there are northern lights in Winnipeg, I'm gonna need people to let me know. Can't believe I missed out on that spectacular show...was probably just watching Mrs Maisel and only would have needed to turn my head left to see it. 🤦🏼♀️
I'm elated to be ratified as
@CMA_Docs
President-elect.
I follow in the steps of inspirational leaders. I can't wait to pick up the work and advocate for positive changes to our systems.
Ty
@AlikaMD
@KatharineSmart
and so many other greats who have made powerful impacts 🙏
In a wrap up to the
#CMAagm
, we officially welcome
@DrKathleenRoss1
as president; her direct experience in front-line medicine will prove significant as the CMA continues to advocate for better
#AccessToCare
for all Canadians. We also thank outgoing president
@AlikaMD
for his
Making the vaccine as accessible as possible to those who face barriers is critical to us. For those who may not be comfortable visiting a supersite, we are allocating almost 30,000 doses to pharmacies and medical clinics. This is almost 5x more than we allocated last week! (1/5)
A quick note about mixing the mRNA
#COVID19Vaccines
that are available to us now. These vaccines are considered equivalent, both are safe and effective. If you’re an adult - get the first vaccine available to you when you’re eligible. (1/4)
Grateful to have the opportunity to speak at the Yukon Medical Association AGM this year. It is an honour to be invited to experience the passion and dedication of the docs here in this stunning land.
With long wait times, and more than 6.5 million Canadians without access to primary care, it’s time to take action to stabilize our health system. There are seven things we can do today, to create a sustainable and equitable healthcare system of tomorrow. 🧵 👇