https://calgaryherald.com/news/loca...riticism-for-letters-opposing-vaccine-mandate
Two pediatricians at the Alberta Children’s Hospital are facing criticism after recently writing letters outlining their opposition to vaccine mandates for health-care workers.
Dr. Eric Payne and Dr. Michael Vila wrote in their respective letters they are unvaccinated against COVID-19. They both characterized COVID-19 vaccines as “experimental” and call vaccine effectiveness and safety into question.
In Payne’s letter, he wrote he and his family are otherwise fully vaccinated, and argued the risk of spreading COVID-19 to his pediatric patients and leading to severe outcomes is “minuscule.”
In a statement to Postmedia, Payne said his stance is independent of his employer. He said he has seen first-hand the impact on patient care from strains on ICUs, but said he stands by his letter and supports patient autonomy and informed consent.
“I am particularly concerned about these experimental vaccines being forced on our children as a requirement to attend school or participate in extracurricular activities. I do not feel that parents and teenagers are receiving informed consent,” Payne said.
Payne’s letter was addressed to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) council. In a statement, the CPSA said though the college can’t speak to specific cases, it said it is aware of a “small number” of physicians making claims that oppose current consensus on vaccines and is “very concerned” about this.
“CPSA recognizes these are trying times for front-line health-care workers. However, spreading misinformation about vaccines that goes against current evidence and advisories does not align with a physician’s professional responsibility to their patients,” the college said.
The CPSA added the college recently surveyed the profession about COVID-19 vaccination and found 96 per cent of approximately 5,100 respondents indicated they are fully immunized.
Vila wrote in his letter he is not an anti-vaxxer and he has consistently advocated for children to receive other vaccines when parents are hesitant to do so. He told Postmedia he is advocating for the best possible health outcomes for his patients.
“Should we have seen a large volume of hospitalizations within the pediatric population, or if it had been obvious and supported by the evidence that being vaccinated reduced transmissibility to my patients, I would have adjusted my decision to reflect that,” said Vila in his letter, which was sent to AHS leadership.
AHS announced Aug. 31 its staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 31 or risk being put on unpaid leave. The health authority said Friday the “vast majority” of health-care workers are already fully immunized, with their goal to reach 100 per cent uptake. More than 49,000 staff have already submitted their proof of vaccination, AHS said.
Hu said doctors casting doubts on vaccine efficacy and safety can provide fuel for those who oppose vaccinations.
“It’s quite dangerous when you even have a few doctors saying stuff like this, because they are really good nodes for anti-vaxxers to organize around,” he said.
“When an anti-vaxxer can hang on the words of a physician, someone with ‘MD’ behind their name saying that vaccines aren’t safe, they’re much more powerful
Two pediatricians at the Alberta Children’s Hospital are facing criticism after recently writing letters outlining their opposition to vaccine mandates for health-care workers.
Dr. Eric Payne and Dr. Michael Vila wrote in their respective letters they are unvaccinated against COVID-19. They both characterized COVID-19 vaccines as “experimental” and call vaccine effectiveness and safety into question.
In Payne’s letter, he wrote he and his family are otherwise fully vaccinated, and argued the risk of spreading COVID-19 to his pediatric patients and leading to severe outcomes is “minuscule.”
In a statement to Postmedia, Payne said his stance is independent of his employer. He said he has seen first-hand the impact on patient care from strains on ICUs, but said he stands by his letter and supports patient autonomy and informed consent.
“I am particularly concerned about these experimental vaccines being forced on our children as a requirement to attend school or participate in extracurricular activities. I do not feel that parents and teenagers are receiving informed consent,” Payne said.
Payne’s letter was addressed to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) council. In a statement, the CPSA said though the college can’t speak to specific cases, it said it is aware of a “small number” of physicians making claims that oppose current consensus on vaccines and is “very concerned” about this.
“CPSA recognizes these are trying times for front-line health-care workers. However, spreading misinformation about vaccines that goes against current evidence and advisories does not align with a physician’s professional responsibility to their patients,” the college said.
The CPSA added the college recently surveyed the profession about COVID-19 vaccination and found 96 per cent of approximately 5,100 respondents indicated they are fully immunized.
Vila wrote in his letter he is not an anti-vaxxer and he has consistently advocated for children to receive other vaccines when parents are hesitant to do so. He told Postmedia he is advocating for the best possible health outcomes for his patients.
“Should we have seen a large volume of hospitalizations within the pediatric population, or if it had been obvious and supported by the evidence that being vaccinated reduced transmissibility to my patients, I would have adjusted my decision to reflect that,” said Vila in his letter, which was sent to AHS leadership.
AHS announced Aug. 31 its staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 31 or risk being put on unpaid leave. The health authority said Friday the “vast majority” of health-care workers are already fully immunized, with their goal to reach 100 per cent uptake. More than 49,000 staff have already submitted their proof of vaccination, AHS said.
Hu said doctors casting doubts on vaccine efficacy and safety can provide fuel for those who oppose vaccinations.
“It’s quite dangerous when you even have a few doctors saying stuff like this, because they are really good nodes for anti-vaxxers to organize around,” he said.
“When an anti-vaxxer can hang on the words of a physician, someone with ‘MD’ behind their name saying that vaccines aren’t safe, they’re much more powerful
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