‘Second class’?
Dear Editor:
Are Minto’s seniors second-class citizens?
On Feb. 24, Minto seniors received information that they could register for COVID-19 vaccinations.
On Feb. 25, we received word through the grapevine that there was a vaccination centre being set up in Mount Forest on Feb. 26. Some residents of Harriston and Clifford, though not officially notified, were able to register and receive their first dose in Mount Forest. This was a one-day clinic set up and it appears to have been kept quiet.
By the time we got word to our granddaughter to register us in Mount Forest, they had closed the bookings off and we were promptly scheduled into Fergus on March 8.
It appears that residents of Minto have lost the opportunity of a short drive to Mount Forest and are being routed to Fergus, which is approximately three times the distance as Mount Forest. Alternatively, you can go to Guelph or Orangeville, which are even further.
Many seniors in the 90-plus group no longer drive and would have to arrange transportation. Those that are still able to drive may be comfortable in their hometown environment, but uneasy or reluctant to drive a further distance.
The Minto boundary is within 2km of the Mount Forest vaccination site. The site location is chosen by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health unit. Why wouldn’t Minto residents be directed to the Mount Forest location?
The online booking system is also poorly set up for the targeted age group. Most seniors in the 80-plus age group probably do not have their own computer, cell phone or email. If they do not have family assistance, are they not entitled to a vaccine? When you call WDGPH you are directed to the website.
Jim Harkness,
Harriston
Thankful for letter
Dear Editor:
RE: Treatment plant needed, Feb. 25.
I could not agree more with Rod Finnie’s last paragraph, “Oh, and by the way, the trout will actually enjoy having a stream to live in that doesn’t dry up in summer.”
My point exactly, Mr. Finnie. I interpret this, that you think the trout can thrive in effluent discharge if there is no river flow. Please, correct me if I am wrong, but I would not like to be around to see the horns growing out of the heads of the trout. How can you have a proper dilution rate of the effluent discharge to the outflow of the river, if, as you say, it dries up in the summer, or as I say, a beaver can drop a tree and build a dam and change river flow overnight.
I do not need a 10-year, $2-million dollar study to come to this conclusion, a simple hike will prove. I really never considered the droughts, but I thank you so much for bringing this component to the table. You have a very good point, and I thank you so much for your information and support in regards to this cause.
You have definitely garnered attention, as my email and phone has not stopped. You have truly opened up a new dimension, with expressing even more reduced outflow to properly dilute the effluent. Thanks so much for helping our cause.
Ken Cowling,
Fergus
‘Cancel culture’
Dear Editor:
RE: VanLeeuwen out, Dunsmore in as deputy mayor, Feb. 25.
It is obvious that “cancel culture” is alive and well In our community. Congratulations Centre Wellington councillors!
Dushan R. Divjak,
Elora
COVID spread
Dear Editor:
COVID-19 is spread from person to person. COVID-19 is in the water droplets an infected person breathes out.
If you disagree with keeping personal distance and wearing a mask, what is your solution to stop the spread of the virus?
Chris Woode,
Fergus
‘Time, patience, effort’
Dear Editor:
In the novel The Plague by Albert Camus (he won the Nobel prize for literature), the author states, “our townsfolk were like everybody else, wrapped up in themselves; in other words, they were humanists: they disbelieved in pestilences.
“They went on doing business, arranged for journeys, and formed views. How should they have given a thought to anything like plague, which rules out any future, cancels journeys, silences the exchange of views.”
Perhaps anyone who presumes that he knows more than the many health experts that have laid out the simple steps for all of us to follow so that we may one day soon become COVID-free should take the time to read this book and maybe think seriously about what is good for all of us.
Thank goodness that we have a thinking man like Kelly Linton as our mayor in Centre Wellington. We all have to do our part and listen to the experts and follow the laws so that we may get everything back to normal. But it will take time, patience and effort.
Christy Doraty,
Fergus
Hydro handouts?
Dear Editor:
Four hundred years ago, Drago Pogrosski analyzed the actions of the Chinese Dynasty. Among his “Laws of Excess” was one law that dealt with sudden riches and the desire to become a charitable, god-like figure.
Professor Pogrosski noted that the Chinese emperor gave away millions of dollars to the under privileged classes. Alas, it was to no avail. The masses continued to rely on government handouts and became increasingly lazy. The dynasty slowly collapsed!
I received an email recently stating that Hydro One was prepared to supply electricity to anyone, even if they could not pay.
The email notice further stated that Hydro One would provide financial training and guidance for those who were delinquent with their hydro payments.
Firstly, have these beliefs been tested? Were they successful ?
Secondly, I was of the impression that Hydro One was an energy supplier, not a financial institution. We have many other provincial entities that can provide mental and financial help to these people .
On a final note, it would have been prudent and polite to supply the customers of Hydro One, who have consistently paid their bills for decades, the effect of this unilateral gratuity.
Lastly, you may wish to peruse this donor’s position on the Sunshine List.
Jim McClure,
Crieff
‘Tell us the truth’
Dear Editor:
Recently an Advertiser article stated that “all residents of those facilities (long-term care and retirement homes) in the WDGPH region – some 3,055 people – received their first-dose vaccine by Jan. 27, the goal set by public health.”
This is not correct. Some people in Riverside Long-Term Care in Guelph received their first shot on Feb. 9. Setting goals and obtaining them are two different things.
WDGPH needs to tell us the truth if we are to follow the advice of public health.
Mac Yule,
Erin
‘Truly remarkable’
Dear Editor:
Many Canadians express concern about vaccine availability and criticism of manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna and PM Trudeau and the federal government. I have a different perspective.
The first cases of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, were identified in December, 2019. The genetic sequence of the virus was provided by China in January, 2020. It usually takes more than 10 years and $500 million to develop, test and register a vaccine. But almost immediately, governments, scientists and pharmaceutical companies in Canada and internationally redirected talent and resources to initiate more than a hundred COVID-19 vaccine development projects.
Less than one year later, 1/10th the usual development time, we have two proven effective vaccines, registered by Health Canada and going into people’s arms! And there are three more (AstraZeneca, Johnson&Johnson and Novavax) in the accelerated rolling review process at Health Canada. One of those will be produced at a Montreal plant later this year. Truly remarkable accomplishments!
Pfizer and Moderna don’t deserve criticism for doing what some considered impossible; for being first with robust data for Health Canada and for risking millions to manufacture vaccines before registration. And PM Trudeau and the Canadian government folks deserve praise for their focus on the pandemic, for contracting the right vaccine candidates early and for the distribution of vaccines despite sourcing and storage challenges.
More manufacturing glitches are likely and there will undoubtedly be international competition for limited vaccine supplies. But there will also be other vaccines on stream soon to boost supply, at least one of which will be manufactured in Canada.
Let’s protect each other by continuing to follow public health guidelines, prioritize high risk folks and frontline workers for vaccination and encourage, not criticize, PM Trudeau, the federal government and companies for what has been accomplished – to our collective benefit.
Peter van Vloten,
Fergus
Librarian love
Dear Editor:
I’d like to write to express my appreciation for our librarians. We are frequent borrowers at the Aboyne library. During these tough times they have continued to adapt and innovate to continue to serve the community.
My three young children have loved the take home crafts the librarians lovingly put together. We have enjoyed stocking up on books, DVDs and board games as well. They process our holds quickly and are understanding when I (cough) bring items back late (cough) … we are so thankful!
From my family to the Wellington County librarian family: thanks so much!
Beth Gordon,
Belwood
‘Superficial analysis’
Dear Editor:
The Jan. 14 Advertiser included a letter indicating the 2020 national COVID-19 death rate in Canada was 45.7 per 100,000, (16,753 deaths in total according to the letter.)
While this is a serious number, on its own it doesn’t tell us enough to adequately understand the situation and develop a coherent national strategy that will protect those now being harmed and avoid wasting money and taking on risk providing unneeded services to those who are not. As the Advertiser reported then, 40% of Ontario’s LTC facilities were in outbreak.
According to Ryerson University’s Institute for Aging, at the time its report was released, long-term care (LTC) and retirement homes accounted for 73% of total COVID-19 deaths in Canada. Federal numbers show that 71% of the Canadian COVID-19 deaths have been among people 80 years of age and older; 97% of the Canadian COVID-19 deaths have been among those 60 and over.
Here’s where superficial analysis has led us tragically astray. We have about 1,663,600 Canadian citizens aged 80 or over (about 4.5% of Canada’s population). Based on these national numbers provided by the government, this means that the death rate for 2020 due to COVID-19 among Canadians 80 and over was a staggering 715 per 100,000! The corresponding death rate for the remaining Canadian population under 80 was less than 14 per 100,000.
The numbers and facts speak for themselves. We have a death rate for our elders that is 51 times greater than for the remaining 95% of our population.
Why isn’t anyone asking the questions that at least someone must be thinking?
Terence Rothwell,
Wellington North