When Canadian truckers started their freedom convoy 2022 to Ottawa, the protest was based on a valid concern, they were against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all. With mandatory vaccinations for truckers crossing the Canada / US border starting Jan 15, 2020 and Quebec talking about a tax for the unvaccinated, the government is slowly taking away the freedom of choice for Canadians. Unfortunately, the truckers lost much credibility when anyone, against any number of COVID restrictions, for any number of sometimes wild or questionable reasons, made it about them.
Before I go on, I would like to state that I am fully vaccinated and boosted. I also support lockdowns when medical resources become overwhelmed. No one that gets sick and can be saved, should die because hospitals are unable to treat them. That being said I support the truckers 100 percent on their original concern against mandatory vaccinations, and question the timing and reasons for mandatory vaccinations for drivers that cross the Canada / US border.
VACCINES SHOULD NOT BE MANDATORY
-When vaccines first became available in Canada they were in short supply and depending on the brand, offered different amounts of protection. It was in the national interest to get as many shots into arms with whatever was available as quickly as possible to slow the spread. We were told to take the first vaccine offered to us. If vaccines were mandatory, imagine losing a loved one to Covid-19 if they were forced to take the less effective Astra Zenica and would have survived if they had the choice to hold out for Maderna or Pfizer.
-As I stated above, I am triple vaccinated with 3 shots of Pfizer. If I was not able to get Pfizer for all 3 shots I’m not sure if I would have taken a different brand. No one knows what the long-term effect could be for each of the vaccines, let alone the effects of mixing them. Had vaccines been mandatory, I would not have a choice as Health Canada has deemed it safe to mix and match vaccines.
-I also question Health Canada’s approval for vaccines. It normally takes years to approve a new drug once developed, yet covid vaccines took less than a year, it only took a few months for Health Canada to declare it was safe to mix vaccines. We were told there is absolutely no difference between Pfizer and Maderna when it came to mixing vaccines, yet Pfizer is safe for kids and Maderna isn’t. In fact, Health Canada flip-flopped several times on what ages different vaccines were safe, undermining their own credibility.
-Listen to the Science is what we are told, but science is large amounts of data that needs to be interpreted. Multiple, equally qualified scientists looking at the same data will disagree with the best strategy to follow. Evidence of this can be seen around the world and even across Canada with the different approaches of Federal, Provincial, and Municipal strategies on dealing with the virus. On top of that, understanding the big picture from other aspects like mental health, the economy, freedoms, rights, and logistics have to be factored in to obtain the best strategy. A medical doctor can only offer expertise on a part of this strategy.
-Common sense has not always been applied when it comes to Public Health’s interpretation of science and its recommendations. In March 2020 Theresa Tam of Canada Health repeatedly stated cloth masks offered absolutely no protection from Covid-19. If my 10-year-old grandson was head of Canada Health back then, and I explained to him, “If a virus is spread mostly through people coughing and breathing”, then asked him “if putting a cloth in front of someone’s mouth who was infected, would make it easier? harder? or have no effect? on other people catching it”. The answer “harder” was obvious to him and he may have saved lives. An article by the Toronto Sun on March 6, 2020, is even more disturbing. Toronto Transit drivers were prevented from wearing masks on the job because of public health recommendations such as “that masks are not only unnecessary, they can be harmful for healthy people”. The article goes on to say “We have had inquiries from employees about the use of masks and when they are educated on the public health position, they agree not to wear them”.
-With all this being said, my point is not to discourage anyone from taking the vaccine but that everyone should have a choice. I personally, would strongly recommend the vaccine to everyone, and I worry about loved ones that remain unvaccinated. This is my choice, and I respect the choice of others!
MANDATORY VACCINATION OF CROSS BORDER TRUCKERS MAKES NO SENSE NOW
Of course, there wouldn’t even have been a trucker protest had the federal government not forced all truckers crossing the Canada / US border to be fully vaccinated starting Jan 15th, 2022. For two years, since the start of Covid truckers have been able to cross the border without being vaccinated. Now, in the middle of an economic inflation crisis blamed on a fragile supply chain, after 85% of the eligible Canadian population is fully vaccinated, and hospital rates are going down, Mr. Trudeau has suddenly decided all truckers crossing the border need to be vaccinated. Why he has done this at this time, boggles the mind. His lack of common sense discredits all other valid Covid restrictions in place and validates those with conspiracy theories such as Covid restrictions are only a form of government’s control of us.
-It’s bad enough Mr. Trudeau is risking the derailment of a fragile Canadian economy but unvaccinated truckers currently pose no more threat than any other unvaccinated Canadian. Canada is currently on fire with Covid-19 with more daily cases than we can count, yet the Prime Minister is still worried the odd case brought in from the US from unvaccinated truckers will make a huge difference. With the limited testing on infection and transmission now, there is no reasonable or scientific evidence to support him. In fact, it’s reasonable to assume an unvaccinated driver crossing the country would pose little risk difference to a driver crossing the Canada / US border. Even if there was a greater risk, a simple 15 min rapid test given to unvaccinated drivers at the border makes more sense than mandatory vaccines.
-Cross-border truckers also pose little risk of transmission. They usually drive large transports that simply drop a trailer at a warehouse and pick up another one. Most don’t unload the trailer themselves and have little contact with people at the warehouse. When working they are usually alone, isolated in the cab of the truck. When in Canada, unvaccinated drivers/people are not allowed to eat in restaurants, go to movies, sporting events, or any place an infected person could spread Covid-19 to large groups of people. They do not have contact with vulnerable people and would not even be able to enter a long-term care facility.
-None of the Covid-19 vaccines currently offered in Canada are a cure for the disease. They are only a treatment for the symptoms should we catch it. They will not stop you from getting Covid-19 and they will not stop you from transmitting it to other people if you do. Vaccinated people are now most likely the main source of the spread of Covid-19. Fully vaccinated people are more likely to be Asymptomatic, contagious with little or no symptoms, unaware they are spreading it, and when not in lockdown have the ability to spread it through indoor dining, gyms, cinemas, and sporting events. Evidence of this can be seen in the recent lockdown in Ontario where indoor dining, gyms, cinemas, and admission to sporting events was implemented to slow the spread. It worked, and hospitalizations dramatically declined. All these activities could only be used by fully vaccinated people and required proof of vaccine to enter. It should have made no difference in hospitalizations if most of the spread was by the unvaccinated.
-Scientific evidence shows the protection of vaccines is temporary, there is already talk of a 4th dose. The more boosters we have, the greater the chance of long-term side effects. I have already had 3 shots and I’m not sure how many more I would be comfortable taking. Thankfully the government is changing its strategy from “trying to eliminate Covid-19” to “living with it“. Building antibodies from catching the virus while under the maximum protection of the vaccine should provide a safe and more lasting resistance.
REPEAL THE MANDATORY VACCINATIONS OF CROSS BORDER TRUCKERS
There is no scientific proof now that mandatory vaccinations of cross-border truckers is necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19. Vaccinated people are probably more responsible for the spread of Covid-19 than unvaccinated. It threatens the Canadian economy and discredits valid Covid-19 restrictions. With 85% of the eligible population vaccinated, almost everyone that wants the vaccine is now protected leaving those that choose to remain unvaccinated most at risk, by choice. In this case, it cuts to the nerve of our freedom of rights, one that can trigger a powerful response.
Dave Lister
listerlogic.com