Quebec-made Immunoclip tries to keep most vulnerable safe from COVID-19

Soon some Montrealers may be walking around the city with a special symbol clipped on their face mask.

One Quebec man had the idea of creating a clip that could be attached to masks to alert people that the person wearing it has a weakened immune system, and that catching COVID-19 could be deadly.

The red lower case “i” logo stands for immunocompromised or immunosuppressed.

The message? Be kind and keep a two-metre distance.

“Just keep the distance and you will keep me out of the hospital,” said Louis Sansfaçon, the founder of Immunoclip. “And you know, the ‘I’ in English, ‘I’ is ‘je,’ so I am important.”

#WATCH: "Respect the distancing and respect the life of the other one," says Louis Sansfacon, a Quebec City man who created the 'immunoclip', a plastic clip attachable to face masks to show you're immunocompromised. @CityNewsMTL pic.twitter.com/y5fmWMuaK4

— Brittany Henriques (@BritHenriques) March 19, 2022

In memory of late daughter Emilie

The idea for the Immunoclip – a medical grade plastic clip attachable to masks – all started with his late daughter Emilie.

Emilie Sansfaçon was battling cancer in 2020 when COVID-19 reached Quebec. Her wish was to have a non-verbal tool that would signal her vulnerability to others.

Her hope was to achieve respect and compassion from people when they crossed her.

“She said to me, ‘Well, that guy doesn’t know that I’m fighting for my life. I’m fighting for my health.’”

She lost her battle with cancer in November 2020, but her father carried on her vision in her honour.

“She was a leader,” said Sansfaçon. “She was an athlete. She was always smiling. You know, when she came in a place, everybody knew she was there.

“She’s my inspiration.”

Quebec organizations supporting the cause

Sansfaçon says approximately 3,000 clips – at $6.50 each – are being sold each day.

He hopes the symbol will become known around the world and help thousands of immunocompromised people.

“This ‘i’ will make the difference. I think so,” he said. “I mean, it’s the first time we use the mask as a communication tool. And this ‘i’ will be efficient. If this ‘i’ is known and we will probably say, OK… I will help her or him by respecting the distance.”

Quebec’s Association of Immunodeficient Patients, the Quebec Cancer Foundation and many more organizations have gotten on board with the idea, selling the clips on their websites to support their causes.

Proceeds of Immunoclip sales on its website will be distributed to all partnering foundations.

Profits from the Immunoclip going to the CHU de Québec-Université Laval hospital in Quebec City will be dedicated to creating comfortable palliative rooms in its hospital.

Sansfaçon envisions rooms with a large TV set up with Zoom access, a larger bed and more.

“We’re talking about humanization of the last two or three weeks of your life. This is the way I see it,” he said.