Denis Walsh (File Photo. Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

COVID-19

Kamloops councillor calls on province to offer rapid testing to unvaccinated healthcare workers

Nov 9, 2021 | 3:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops city councillor is calling on the province to offer alternatives to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers.

In a letter addressed to Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Denis Walsh says a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for healthcare workers is resulting in “widespread, far-reaching firings”.

Walsh, himself, is not vaccinated against COVID-19. He believes natural immunity achieved after he contracted COVID-19 in spring gives him greater immunity against the virus.

Experts have clearly stated natural immunity does not offer as much protection as an mRNA vaccine.

The City of Kamloops will require its employees to be fully vaccinated as of December 15. If they are not, they are required to take a test every 72 hours. The tests are provided by City but paid for by the provincial government.

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Walsh is asking the province to make a similar accommodation for unvaccinated healthcare workers. At present, they are placed on unpaid leave and risk termination.

“…I must share with you that I am convinced mass vaccination mandates across BC are unethical and quite an affront to basic human rights, and even to democracy as we have known it,” Walsh writes.

He goes on to question Dix on his commitment to human rights law and Henry on her commitment to the guiding principles of the healthcare field.

“Dr. Henry, have you forgotten that one basic principle essential to the Hippocratic Oath: ‘First do no harm’? How many children and families are about to be seriously harmed with widespread, far-reaching firings over vaccination mandates?” he asks.

All eight of Walsh’s council colleagues are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and will be soon moving back into City Hall’s council chambers for regular meetings. Walsh has offered to attend the meetings remotely.