Dear Editor:
Just a few short months ago, we were lauding the efforts of our frontline nurses, paramedics, doctors and all other support staff in our ongoing battle with COVID-19. We placed signs on our lawns, organized rallies in their support, delivered lunches to the hospitals, and so on.
Today, they are the subject of derision and intimidation for faithfully doing precisely the same humanitarian service. This is a movement by seemingly Donald Trump-style wannabes who can’t see the difference between critical medical care, and governmental imposed restrictions.
They can’t seem to comprehend that the severity of the crisis has resulted in the need for unprecedented dramatic action. They link our courageous medical community with the government-imposed restrictions requiring vaccinations to reconvene a relatively normal life.
These are desperate but temporary measures put forth by our political leaders – not frontline workers – exclusively for the eradication of COVID.
Two basic facts remain. First, the higher the vaccination rate, the less COVID infections occur. This is a mathematical, scientific and medical reality borne out time and time again. Second, new cases of the Delta variant are 85% in unvaccinated individuals. Science cannot be any clearer. Still many refuse to get vaccinated.
That loud and misguided minority is adamantly proclaiming this is an infringement on their personal rights and freedom of choice. May I suggest a trip to Arthur, to the mural dedicated to the war dead, where the message is crystal clear: “freedom does not come without sacrifice or cost.”
But if logic, pleas, patriotism, and medical facts mean nothing, let’s try the economic impact.
If you as an individual are looking at hiring a service provider to enter your home, demand proof of vaccination. If you must work beside any other individual, insist that your employer demand proof of vaccination to ensure your own health and safety. If the co-operation is still not there, that employer must insist on mandatory twice-a-week negative tests paid for by the individual (at $40 a pop), again for your own protection. You have that right.
The medical community cannot refuse to treat anyone, even the protesting unvaccinated. If and when that individual is hospitalized and cured, send them the hospital bill at somewhere around $1,800 per day. After all, they had a choice not to be there, and chose otherwise.
Every public institution is trying with any means at its disposal to eradicate COVID. We’re all fed up, not only with COVID, but also the individuals who are perpetuating this horrible disease.
W. Campbell,
Fergus