Coronavirus

[Joe S.]

I saw something on Instagram that stated that Pfizer, J&J, Moderna and federal employees are not required to get the vaccine, so how can the government mandate vaccine requirements.

This is just flat out false and so easily verifiable, yet this kind of misinformation continues to propagate.

I?m just completely baffled by the state of our society. When did trusting experts become the wrong thing to do? So if the dentist tells me I have a cavity, should I research Facebook articles first to decide what I should do?

 

[bustaheims]

Extremely well said. On top of that, if your source of research is going to be "reading facebook articles" you cannot discount the articles that smack your theories in the face. That's not even forming an opinion. That's searching for the answers that best suit your desired response.

Yup. While it still wouldn't be great, if people were reading articles from all sides of the debates, they'd at least be able to form a more balanced (though, still poorly informed) opinion. Most of the anti-vax crowd are basically living in an echo chamber.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

A growing trend from the "Live Free" movement is to sue organizations that are forced into mandating proof of vaccine. This includes the hockey association my daughter plays in and the school board my wife works at.
Neither of these organizations have any control over the proof of vaccine. Whether they agree or not does not matter. They did not implement the rules but they have to abide.

This reaction is the equivalent of suing Chevrolet because the government makes them install seat belts in their cars.

 

[bustaheims]

No one ever accused the "Live Free" movement of being an intelligent group.

 

[Highlander]

No one ever accused the "Live Free" movement of being an intelligent group.

Isn't live free part of the lyric for Born Free a movie song about non self conscious creatures?

 

[herman]

https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-didn-t-spend-money-from-covid-19-response-program-in-first-quarter-watchdog-1.5586353

Ontario's fiscal watchdog says the province didn't spend any money from a new $2.7 billion COVID-19 response program in the first quarter.

A Wednesday report from the Financial Accountability Office found that the province spent a total of $2.6 billion -- or 6.6 per cent -- less than planned between April and July.

The report says health spending was $691 million lower than planned in the area of population and public health because the province didn't spend funds from the pandemic program.

 

[Joe S.]

I?m finding that article either confusing or misleading. They have spent the money but just not all of it? So what?s the issue? It?s not like the funds have disappeared, they?re still there to be used.

Then again, I?m not sure I?m getting the message they are trying to convey.

 

[herman]

I?m finding that article either confusing or misleading. They have spent the money but just not all of it? So what?s the issue? It?s not like the funds have disappeared, they?re still there to be used.

Then again, I?m not sure I?m getting the message they are trying to convey.

I think if you're a teacher, or a parent with kids under 12 or 15 or whatever, you're seeing this news and looking a bit askance at why the provincial government hasn't done its utmost to ensure schools have the best chance against COVID outbreaks during the period of time kids were held out of in-person learning.

 

[Frank E]

I?m finding that article either confusing or misleading. They have spent the money but just not all of it? So what?s the issue? It?s not like the funds have disappeared, they?re still there to be used.

Then again, I?m not sure I?m getting the message they are trying to convey.

There's no story here.  The fund is still there to deal with anything that comes up this fall/winter.

It's just a hit piece and that's about it.  Horvath suggesting Ford doesn't like to spend money should really check the budget deficit the government is running up this year.

 

[Joe S.]

Can you imagine going to medical school, realizing your lifelong dream of becoming a doctor only to have to look into? this.

"As we stand now, there is absolutely no reported such side effect or adverse event of testicular swelling in Trinidad," Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh said Wednesday morning. "Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday running down this false claim."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/nicki-minaj-cousin-friend-swollen-testicles-health

 

[Kin]

I?m finding that article either confusing or misleading. They have spent the money but just not all of it? So what?s the issue? It?s not like the funds have disappeared, they?re still there to be used.

Then again, I?m not sure I?m getting the message they are trying to convey.

I think you need to look at it within the larger context of what appears to be the divide between the Conservatives and the other parties with regards to dealing with the pandemic. If the money is there, and you need it, other parties seem to think you should spend it and then, later on, if you need more borrow and spend more. The Conservatives clearly favour a more, well, conservative approach.

So in hearing this news, I think it's fair to ask "Did the Conservatives not spend money they otherwise should have and maybe have done a better job in blunting some of the economic damage of Covid/helping to stop the spread?" especially in the midst of a Federal Election where pandemic spending seems to be a pretty central issue.

 

[herman]

As the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, Alberta has declared a state of emergency and vaccine passports a couple months after declaring the pandemic was over (just in time for Stampede).

 

[Joe S.]

As an aside, I think every government in the world made a mistake calling it a vaccine passport. Why couldn?t they just stick with immunization record? Which is nomenclature that already exists.

 

[Joe S.]

As the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, Alberta has declared a state of emergency and vaccine passports a couple months after declaring the pandemic was over (just in time for Stampede).

About a month ago we were talking about taking a trip to Banff in oct, and I chickened out. I told my wife I don?t have faith that Alberta is going to be out of it by then.

 

[herman]

As the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, Alberta has declared a state of emergency and vaccine passports a couple months after declaring the pandemic was over (just in time for Stampede).

About a month ago we were talking about taking a trip to Banff in oct, and I chickened out. I told my wife I don?t have faith that Alberta is going to be out of it by then.

I think that's more of a wise assessment of the situation, rather than chickening.

 

[Kin]

As an aside, I think every government in the world made a mistake calling it a vaccine passport. Why couldn?t they just stick with immunization record? Which is nomenclature that already exists.

Well, I guess to somewhat play Devil's Advocate it was important for them to stress that this was a new thing that would have very serious consequences. If the lack of a "passport" meant people couldn't go to movie theatres or restaurant or just flat out being denied entry into some countries then I think it may have been soft selling it to simply mention it as "updated immunization record" especially when it may very well involve an actual piece of identification.

 

[Joe S.]

You know I?m on the fence about this idea of proof of immunization to frequent certain establishments. Why is it required for restaurants and not for big box stores? It?s seems to be placing undue burden on small business owners.

Yes I?m absolutely in favour of large scale attendance events requiring vaccination, and I have no issue at all with employers requiring it as well.

If this acts as an incentive to get up to 80-90% immunized then great, and then we can drop these presentation requirements. Until then I have no issue continuing to wear a mask and keeping my distance.

But it?s tough - I don?t agree with the ?freedom? crowd, but I?m sympathetic to the businesses here.

 

[Joe S.]

As an aside, I think every government in the world made a mistake calling it a vaccine passport. Why couldn?t they just stick with immunization record? Which is nomenclature that already exists.

Well, I guess to somewhat play Devil's Advocate it was important for them to stress that this was a new thing that would have very serious consequences. If the lack of a "passport" meant people couldn't go to movie theatres or restaurant or just flat out being denied entry into some countries then I think it may have been soft selling it to simply mention it as "updated immunization record" especially when it may very well involve an actual piece of identification.

Yeah fair enough. I can see both sides. I just feel that the term ?passport? has become a rallying cry for the freedom fighters out there.

I got into an argument on Instagram (I know, I know) with one of these folks and I basically said that society comes with a contract where certain civil liberties are suspended in order to have a civilized society. That?s why I can?t drive without a licence while doing coke and blowing through every red light.

And they responded ?I didn?t sign any contract! My only contract is the constitution!?

So I graciously tapped out at that point. 

 

[herman]

You know I?m on the fence about this idea of proof of immunization to frequent certain establishments. Why is it required for restaurants and not for big box stores? It?s seems to be placing undue burden on small business owners.

Restaurants sort of require unmasking to do stuff like indoor eating and drinking.
Big Box Stores, or any store really (with enough aisleway) does not require unmasking to work.

 

[Joe S.]

Yeah that?s fair. Like I said I?m torn. I?m hoping this just acts as an incentive to get vaccinated and we can just drop this. Personally, even though I?m fully vaccinated, I?m not going to eat indoors. I?m still not comfortable getting back on the go train to commute to work, passport or not.

I don?t know what it is, but over the last few days I?ve started losing my mind over this. The whole anti vaccine, my freedom, sentiment is just hitting me now as I?ve been largely ignoring these yahoos. But their voices keep getting louder and it?s very disheartening.

So I apologize for my ramblings here, my thoughts are all over the place.