AHS chief and nurses condemn protesters against vaccine warrant in hospitals

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Anti-vaccine mandate activists who have demonstrated in Alberta hospitals are castigated by the province’s health leaders and Calgarians who have met them.

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In Calgary, at least 200 protesters gathered outside Foothills Medical Center on Wednesday to loudly condemn the notion of vaccination warrants and passports, as well as the vaccinations themselves.

It was one of many similar protests across the country that came under heavy criticism from healthcare workers.

While those who oppose vaccination restrictions and requirements have the right to protest, some have gone above and beyond to approach patients and health workers at these sites, said AHS President Dr Verna Yiu.

“I am aware of cases where AHS employees have been yelled at and harassed. Some did not feel safe going to and from their place of work, ”she said in a statement on Friday.

“Targeting healthcare workers with anger and vitriol is not acceptable, especially now.”

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Healthcare workers, she said, are under extreme pressure and are wearing themselves out after 18 months of battling the pandemic.

Patients and staff have also been barred from entering hospitals, which “is unwarranted and extremely disturbing,” she added.

An intensive care doctor said the protests, combined with what he calls the government’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis, are “upsetting” to his colleagues.

“It’s hard to describe emotions – they range from hurt to anger to discouragement,” said Dr Noel Gibney.

Healthcare workers, he said, are “insulted by these crazy people as they try to save the lives of these people.”

Despite this, these protesters say they are determined to persevere in the face of what they call “criminal” and “unscientific” measures that violate their civil rights.

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Some protesters are calling the vaccinations clot injections, following reports of extremely rare blood clotting after vaccinations.

An email message calling for a protest outside Calgary City Hall on Friday used the motto “Never Again,” a phrase used for decades to warn of a repeat of the WWII Holocaust.

Among protesters outside Foothills Medical Center on Wednesday were activists who presented themselves as nurses upset by a rule announced this week that health workers not fully vaccinated by the end of October would face unpaid leave.

“If someone is afraid or in danger, they have a choice to protect themselves,” said nurse Selena Clauson.

“I believe in total freedom, absolute freedom. It is not my responsibility to keep everyone safe.

Another protest nurse said she had previously had COVID-19, making vaccination unnecessary, although epidemiologists say this is far from certain, especially with the more contagious Delta variant.

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The union representing registered nurses in Alberta said the Canadian Frontline Nurses group, which participated in the protests, is not affiliated and appears to be generally opposed to many COVID-19 restrictions.

The United Nurses of Alberta say they are in favor of mandatory vaccinations for its members.

“The vast majority of nurses in this country have seen the devastating effects of COVID-19 with their own eyes and understand that the only way out of this pandemic is through vaccination, social distancing, masking and measures such as passports. vaccination, ”said the UNA. said in a statement.

“It is demoralizing for nurses and other healthcare workers working in hospitals and other health facilities, at risk of burnout and COVID-19 infection, to see these people oppose and interfere with vaccination efforts with access to health facilities. “

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Those who choose not to be vaccinated are endangering the viability of hospitals in Alberta, where at least 95% of intensive care units are operating at full capacity, exasperated Premier Jason Kenney said on Friday.

The province also announced Friday that many surgeries and other procedures are being postponed due to a heavy patient load caused by COVID-19.

“Their choices are now jeopardizing our health care system. . . Unvaccinated people are 50 to 60 times more likely to be hospitalized, ”he said.

“Your decision doesn’t just have an impact on you.”

Health Minister Tyler Shandro added: “Vaccines are not lethal – vaccines work. “

About 70 percent of eligible Albertans are now fully immunized, but efforts to dramatically increase that number have largely stalled.

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Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn