Greater COVID-19 Education and Expanded COVID-19 Vaccine Choices for all Canadians

A group of concerned interest holders, including CAPA, wrote a letter to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), all the provinces/territories and immunization providers to address the pressing need for enhanced COVID-19 awareness and education, increased availability and access to protein-based vaccines, such as Novavax, which are currently limited in distribution.

What have we been up to?

Coffee For CAPA Fundraiser – The #CoffeeForCAPA fundraiser is back for Arthritis Awareness Month in Sptmeber! We’ve been partnered with Sparkplug Coffee again to offer a range of specialized coffee blends and choclocate-covered coffee beans. Sparkplug will donate 15-20% of the sales to CAPA so we can continue to provide education and advocate for the needs of patients and their families. Stay tuned for a link to buy a Coffee for CAPA in September! 

Pregnancy and Parenting with Arthritis Recording Available – To better support people with arthritis, we held two webinars about pregnancy and parenting with arthritis. This educational series was part of a collaboration with researcher Dr. Mary da Vera and her team at the University of British Columbia. The full two-part series is available on the CAPA YouTube channel – Part 1 and Part 2.

Drug Discovery, Approval, and Reimbursement Series Recordings Available – Over the last few months, we held three webinars on drug discovery and clinical trials, drug approval, and drug reimbursement. This educational series was held in collaboration with CreakyJoints and the Global Healthy Living Foundation. Check out this series now on YouTube!

Get Involved!

Research Opportunity for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients – Do you live with rheumatoid arthritis and want to help others with physical activity and wellness? Dr. Manuel Ester and Dr. Claire Barber from the University of Calgary are looking for patient partners to join their team and help create physical activity resources for people with rheumatoid arthritis. To learn more and get involved email manuel.ester@ucalgary.ca.

Stay Informed

CRA Updates to Rheumatoid Arthritis Guidelines – Click here to view the new updated Canadian Rheulmatology Association’s living guidelines for the pharamacological management of rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. They also have a helpful patient aid document to explain the guidelines.

Abatacept (Orencia) Shortage – Health Canada has reported a potential shortage of Abatacept (Orencia) shortage (the 125 mg x 4 subcutaneous injections). Bristol Myers Squibb has proactively managed the supply disruption by limiting renewals to a 30-day supply. Health Canada has granted permission to import the medication from other countries. The label may look different but it is the same mediaction. This shortage is expected to be temporary and if you experience any issues with your prescription you can contact your Orencia Response Program person who will be able to assist you.

New Blog Posts – We have several new blog posts about pregnancy, parenting, and more with arthritis. Blog posts include Can women with rheumatoid arthritis have children?, 7 Strategies for Parenting While Living with Arthritis, and All Parents Get Tired, but…