Since COVID-19 emerged in Canada in March 2020, what physicians, scientists, public health
officials and citizens have understood about the virus and how to address it has changed drastically. The continually evolving information overload is understandably confusing and overwhelming, and the conflicts between information can be difficult to validate.
The following considerations may help you to more clearly consider these challenges:
Public Perceptions | Evidence-Based Considerations |
---|---|
– COVID-19 poses a serious
threat to public health. | – Risk varies with age and
comorbidities. Children,
adolescents and young adults
have a very low risk of
hospitalization or death from
COVID-19. |
– There is no available,
effective, approved treatment
for COVID-19. | – There are known safe drug
protocols that are effective in
COVID-19 treatment and
prevention. |
– Because healthy people are
considered to transmit the
virus, restrictions (including
social distancing and
lockdowns) are the best way
to reduce transmission of
COVID-19. | – Numerous studies have found
that healthy people do not
significantly contribute to
transmission of the virus.
– Research has shown that the majority of people who have recovered from COVID-19 have developed immunity and do not transmit the virus. – Targeted early treatment and empowering people to build healthy, meaningful, socially connected lives is essential to personal well being and public health. |
– COVID-19 vaccines are
necessary, safe, and effective
(“the benefits outweigh the
risks”), and the fastest and
only way to get back to, and
perpetually maintain normal
life. | – The methods used to justify
rapid COVID-19 vaccine
development and rollout do
not adequately measure
necessity, safety, and efficacy.
– There have been an unprecedented number of deaths and serious, lifealtering adverse reactions occurring shortly after COVID-19 vaccination. – Contrary to initial scientific assumption, the lipid nanoparticles in the COVID-19 vaccines do not stay at the injection site but travel throughout the body, cross the blood-brain barrier, and have been shown to accumulate in sensitive tissues including bone marrow and ovaries. – Much remains unknown about the extremely serious short and long term adverse effects and dangers of the COVID-19 vaccines. These risks need to be independently investigated immediately and resolved before continuing with mass vaccination. |
– All COVID-19 vaccines are
fully approved. | – COVID-19 vaccines are
authorized for use “under
interim order” and are
therefore investigational. The
current experimental phases
are not due to be completed
until 2023 or 2024. |
– “The Science” is settled;
anything contrary to the
official narrative is not
science. | – “The Science” is not settled;
competing evidence about
COVID-19 is growing from many
highly-credentialed sources and
challenges the official narrative.
Compelling scientific evidence is
being ignored or censored.
– In valuing principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, we need to encourage multiple ways of knowing, and develop public health protocols that are evidence informed and responsive to the overall health and wellbeing of our individuals and communities. |
Dialogue over these issues is difficult, divisive, and threatens to tear us apart. As we navigate this rapidly evolving situation, we believe some ethical and legal principles should remain constant in a free and democratic society:
As caring and responsible individuals, it is crucial that we remain open to listening to each other, continuing to ask questions, and recognizing that we are all doing the best we can to keep those we love safe. This is especially true regarding concerns about scientific and medical issues which have a huge impact on the health and welfare of our population. Our COVID-19 resources are offered as learning tools. Feel free to use the information, forms and FAQs as resources with which to engage your government, representatives, health care providers, family and friends.
Information for parents of school aged children, click here
Information for students heading off to university, click here
Information for those seeking medical advice from their physician, click here
ENTER YOUR SEARCH TERMS AND HIT ENTER
It may be surprising to many that the COVID-19 response was largely directed by individuals and corporations with ideological and financial interests independent of public welfare
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to be an independent regulatory body for human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices in the United States. In recent years, it has developed financial dependence on private funding sources, creating a threat to its ability to maintain regulatory independence.
COVID-19 ushered in dramatic changes to Canadians’ healthcare and patients’ rights. Underlying some of these changes was an unprecedented pervasive effect upon decision making and policy by the pharmaceutical industry.
In November 2022, the “National Citizens Inquiry (NCI)” was launched with 4 Commissioners travelling to 8 cities across Canada to receive testimonies from 295 witnesses.
While the COVID-19 crisis has officially been declared over, British Columbia’s healthcare workers continue to be subject to ever-stricter pandemic restrictions.
The Canadian Government is reforming the regulations in order to expedite the approval of novel drugs to the market, exposing healthy Canadians to potentially high risk products.