Page 88 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - September 2021

88 Meet The Unvaccinated - Anti-vaxxers

Meet the unvaccinated: "I'm not saying I'm an anti-vaccine person. I just be deployed, 65 per cent of Canadians polled for
don't have enough confidence. We really don't MacDonald's study said they would get a
Why some Canadians still know the long-term effects. There's just so many COVID-19 vaccine as soon as Health Canada
questions and every day you read something approved one for use — a figure she described
haven't had the shot different." as "hugely encouraging."

Continued from Page 81 Andriy Petriv is a long-haul truck driver from The number of willing vaccine recipients has
the Toronto area. He said he and his wife got grown steadily since that study was published.
sick with what they think was COVID-19
Researchers have been studying mRNA shortly after Christmas. While they didn't get "Unfortunately, the small proportion are quite
technology and its potential for three decades. tested, Petriv said they had all the usual vocal and there's a perception that they're bigger
With an injection of hundreds of millions of symptoms. than they are. I think focusing on people who
dollars in emergency funding from the U.S. have really legitimate questions — and when I
government and other sources, companies like 'I just don't see the point' say legitimate questions, I don't mean their
Moderna and BioNTech (and BioNTech's concerns are necessarily based on facts — is
partner Pfizer) turned a promising piece of To satisfy his curiosity, he said, he recently had really key," MacDonald said in an interview.
molecular biology into a usable product that has an antibody test to see if he had developed any
been deployed in several hundred million people immunity to COVID-19. The test, which is used 'Breakthrough cases' extremely rare
to great effect. to determine past infection, showed that he had
To satisfy his curiosity, he said, he recently had developed some antibodies to the virus. MacDonald said the best way to convince the
an antibody test to see if he had developed any hesitant is to show them the data on just how
immunity to COVID-19. The test, which is used "Since I already had it, I don't see the point of effective the vaccines have been at preventing
to determine past infection, showed that he had taking a vaccine. It could be dangerous in some infection.
developed some antibodies to the virus. cases and given the fact that I already have
antibodies, why should I even take a risk?" he For example, of the 403,149 COVID-19 cases
"Since I already had it, I don't see the point of said in an interview. reported in Ontario between December 14, 2020
taking a vaccine. It could be dangerous in some and July 10 of this year, just 0.4 per cent were
cases and given the fact that I already have "If I have to take it, I'll take it. I'm not scared of so-called "breakthrough cases'' — COVID-19
antibodies, why should I even take a risk?" he vaccines. I just don't see the point. Why put infections in people who had received their
said in an interview. something in my body just to have a certificate second doses 14 days prior.
or something? If you're not thirsty, why should
"If I have to take it, I'll take it. I'm not scared of you drink just to make somebody happy?" About 4 per cent of all cases reported in that
vaccines. I just don't see the point. Why put seven-month period were people who were
something in my body just to have a certificate He said he's also disturbed by the fact that the partially vaccinated with just one dose. The rest,
or something? If you're not thirsty, why should U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has of course, were unvaccinated.
you drink just to make somebody happy?" so far only granted the COVID-19 vaccines an
emergency use authorization, not "full approval" As of July 10, fewer than 18,200 of the
He said he's also disturbed by the fact that the — a process that can sometimes take years. The 10,000,000 people who have received at least
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has FDA has said full approval is coming. one dose so far in Ontario have contracted the
so far only granted the COVID-19 vaccines an virus — 16,358 were infected when they were
emergency use authorization, not "full approval" Health experts maintain that even people with only partially vaccinated and 1,765 became
— a process that can sometimes take years. The past infections should get a vaccine. Some infected after having two doses.
FDA has said full approval is coming. jurisdictions, however — including Quebec,
France, Germany and Italy — have been In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control
Health experts maintain that even people with administering just a single dose to anyone with a estimates that 97 per cent of the people who
past infections should get a vaccine. Some confirmed previous diagnosis. have been admitted to hospital recently with
jurisdictions, however — including Quebec, COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
France, Germany and Italy — have been "While you will receive some immunity from
administering just a single dose to anyone with a having a previous infection, it remains unclear The trust factor
confirmed previous diagnosis. the duration and breadth of that immunity," said
Dr. Kumanan Wilson, a professor of medicine at MacDonald said the very low number of adverse
Mixed messages the University of Ottawa. effects should also assure the hesitant that these

products are safe.
Lorie Carty, a retiree from Prince Edward "It's uncertain whether being exposed to a
County, Ont., said the actions of the National previous version or variant of the virus will "The safety profile has been impressively good,"
Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) protect you against new variants as strongly as a she said. "You could put the message on a
and Health Canada — two bodies that have vaccine will." billboard and that might reach some people, but
sometimes offered competing advice about for people who are distrustful of the
vaccines, most notably about the AstraZeneca Vaccine acceptance is growing government, pharmaceutical companies,
product — have made her question the safety of whatever, they need to hear the message from
the vaccines. Shannon MacDonald is an associate professor in people that they trust. We have to get the
the faculty of nursing at the University of message out there.
"It seems like they're flying by the seat of their Alberta. Before the immunization campaign got
pants, trying to figure things out as they go along underway, she conducted a study on the "All it takes is one case in your unvaccinated
and there's just so much mixed information," acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among the community and you're all at risk."
Carty said of federal health officials. Canadian population.
According to Public Health Agency of Canada
She said she has an appointment booked but she She found that, in general, the vast majority of data, there have been only 2,222 serious adverse
keeps rescheduling because she's just not ready Canadians are not diametrically opposed to events reported post-vaccination in Canada as of
to commit. vaccines. In fact, fewer than 2 per cent of July 9. That's just 0.005 per cent of all doses
Canadian parents refuse childhood shots for administered.
"I want to be sure before I put that in my body their kids.
because once it's in there, there's no going back," (Continued on Page 89)
Carty said. Knowing little about the shots that would soon