COVID FREEDOM HEROES — a Western Standard seven-part series — is recognizing individuals and groups from the legal, law enforcement and medical establishment, along with everyday people that stood up for Canadians' rights and freedoms during the COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates..Part 6 of the series focuses on the efforts of several healthcare workers who raising questions that challenged the mainstream narrative from governments and medical agencies across Canada, including Alberta family physician Dr. Gregory Chan and Calgary pediatric neurologist Dr. Eric Payne.. Dr. Gregory ChanDr. Gregory Chan . Dr. Eric PayneDr. Eric Payne .Both doctors spoke with the Western Standard about their battles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, not only against AHS-mandated COVID-19 vaccines, but also against the "overreach" of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) limiting treatment options for COVID-19 patients..Here is a timeline of the events where doctors, including Chan and Payne, spoke out against the lockdown measures, mandated COVID-19 vaccines, and overreach by AHS, the government and their medical regulators: .November 17, 2020 - Dr. Roger Hodkinson, a top Edmonton doctor in virology, said Albertans “are being lead down the garden path” by government health officials in their efforts to stop the COVID-19 virus and called the virus no worse than a "bad flu" during a city of Edmonton council committee meeting. .Hodkinson is the CEO of Western Medical Assessments, and has been the company’s medical director for over 20 years. He received his general medical degrees from Cambridge University in the UK, and then became a Royal College certified pathologist in Canada (FRCPC) following a residency in Vancouver. He also taught at the University of Alberta and runs MutantDx, a molecular diagnostics company in North Carolina.. Dr. Roger HodkinsonDr. Roger Hodkinson .READ MORE: Senior doc says Alberta politicians ‘playing medicine,’ media driving ‘hysteria’.November 19, 2020 - Hodkinson, who caused a firestorm after his address about COVID-19 to a city of Edmonton council committee, says all businesses should be allowed open and lives return to normal, as recommended by the Great Barrington Declaration, a document signed by a large group of top doctors and medical experts from around the world, in Great Barrington, Mass..The declaration group issued a letter in October 2020 that said they had "grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies," and said more focused protection was needed. .READ MORE: Top Alberta doc urges health officials follow Great Barrington Declaration.December 11, 2020 – Dr. Dennis Modry, a clinical associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Alberta and founding director of the Heart, Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program, wrote and publicly released an open letter addressed to Premier Jason Kenney. The letter blasted Kenney for putting the province into another COVID-19 lockdown. .READ MORE: MUST-READ: Open letter from a doctor to Jason Kenney. Dr. Dennis ModryCourtesy Dr. Modry .December 17, 2020 – Modry said he received support from fellow physicians around the world – but many fear going public with their views. The open letter addressed to Kenney went viral and was read hundreds of thousands of times around the world..“I’ve had lots of doctors say they support what I said but they can’t afford the risk to say that publicly,” Modry told the Western Standard. .READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Senior doctor calling for ending the lockdown says he’s backed by other physicians – but they’re afraid to speak.December 18, 2020 - The CPSA issued an official statement distancing themselves from Modry after the heart surgeon pioneer released his open letter to Kenney. .The letter questioned the premier's decision to put the province into another lockdown and impose a province-wide mask-mandate in a bid to stop the spiraling numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths..The CPSA noted Modry is not a "currently practicing physician," and said he did not have "expertise in public health." .READ MORE: College of Physicians respond to dissenting doctor’s letter, UCP declines to comment.March 17, 2021 – Kenney responded to Modry's open letter saying the doctor was wrong about his conclusions about lockdown measures. .in his open letter, Modry said he hasdthoroughly researched the most recent medical studies from around the world that showed lockdowns don’t work, and any lockdown must come at the very beginning when the virus has only been detected in one or two areas..READ MORE: Kenney finally responds to top doc’s letter blasting his pandemic plans.March 30, 2021 – The Great Barrington Declaration saw a massive uptick in support. .The group behind the declaration, issued a letter in October that said, “...as infectious disease epidemiologists and public health scientists, we have grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies, and recommend an approach we call Focused Protection.”.The group said lockdowns around the world are causing more problems than they solve..Signators includes Dr. Martin Kulldorff — professor of medicine at Harvard University, Dr. Sunetra Gupta — professor at Oxford University, an epidemiologist with expertise in immunology, vaccine development, and mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya — professor at Stanford University Medical School..At the time, it was also co-signed by 20 other medical experts. Since being posted online, tens of thousands of other medical professionals have signed the document along with hundreds of thousands of people around the world. .READ MORE: Great Barrington Declaration on COVID lockdowns sees boom in popularity.March 31, 2021 – Modry penned another letter to Kenney in a continuing battle of correspondence over COVID-19 lockdown regulations..Kenney finally replied to Modry's open letter March 17 and said Modry’s arguments contained incomplete data..Modry’s response also included the latest health study and scientific research into COVID-19..READ MORE: Modry fires off another missive to Kenney over COVID lockdown. Dr Jay BhattacharyaDr Jay Bhattacharya .May 23, 2021 - Stanford University professor, Jay Bhattacharya, a key witness in a constitutional challenge against COVID-19 measures in Manitoba, said all provinces should end lockdowns, change how they run PCR tests, and avoid vaccinating teenagers..READ MORE: Dr J opposes lockdowns, teenage COVID vaccinations, misused PCR tests.May 28, 2021 - Hodkinson said Kenney’s reopening plan is “absolute twaddle!”.“Again, purely arbitrary decisions, with no scientific backing whatsoever,” he said of Kenney's Stage 1 plans to open Alberta for Summer. .READ MORE: Senior Alberta doc calls Kenney reopening plan ‘absolute twaddle’.July 25, 2021 - Hodkinson held nothing back as he shredded the COVID-19 narrative in an outdoor speech in his home city of Edmonton. The doctor, in his World Wide Freedom Day speech, said vaccines are not called safe until they are "put through five to seven years of clinical trials." .READ MORE: Hodkinson’s impassioned speech rouses Edmonton crowd.September 1, 2021 – AHS announced it would require all employees – including frontline healthcare workers, physicians, and contracted providers – to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by October 31, calling the measure "extraordinary but necessary." .READ MORE: Alberta Health Services makes vaccination mandatory for all staff. Rally at Olympic Plaze, CalgaryRally at Olympic Plaze, Calgary .September 12, 2021 – Thousands of Calgarians jammed Olympic Plaza in support of AHS and frontline workers who oppose forced vaccinations..More than two thousand stood in solidarity with Calgary firefighters, police, EMS, nurses, doctors, AHS and City of Calgary workers opposed to mandated vaccines as a requirement of their employment..READ MORE: WATCH: Thousands rally in Calgary against mandatory vaccinations.September 22, 2021 – The number of patients in Alberta hospitals was actually going down when Kenney brought in the latest COVID-19 lockdown restrictions last week, claimed Dr. Gary Davidson, an emergency doctor in Red Deer..At an event put on by Mountain View Freedom in central Alberta September 18, Davidson spoke to a gathering of close to 1,000 people and told them hospital admittance numbers were trending down. .According to Davidson, this “health care crisis” didn’t start with COVID-19, but began six years ago under the Notley government which began to cut back nursing positions in his Red Deer emergency department. .READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta doctor says hospital capacity numbers manipulated by AHS.September 24, 2021 – Scott Crawford said the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system in the province is overwhelmed and on the verge of collapse..Along with the stress of his job, the veteran paramedic said he was dealing with the pressures of disobeying an order to get a COVID-19 vaccination. AHS told workers they had until October 31 to be vaccinated or face consequences, including firing..READ MORE: Paramedic faces job loss for refusing COVID jab.September 24, 2021 - Thousands of Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees sent an open letter to their bosses demanding it drop its mandatory vaccination for staff policy..The letter’s 3,544 signators said they included both vaccinated and unvaccinated physicians, nurses, first responders and health care professionals that oppose the AHS policy..Citing the severe strain the health care system was facing, the signatories shared concerns about providing adequate patient care with the looming threat of potential loss of staff, through the letter drafted by Airdrie constitutional lawyer Carol Crosson..READ MORE: Over 3,500 health care workers demand AHS rescind vaccine mandate.READ MORE: OPEN LETTER: Health care workers against mandatory vaccinations.September 27, 2021 - Facing potential job loss, Payne said he is "pro-vaccine" and he and his family are all caught up on their yearly flu shots, but he would not get the COVID-19 vaccines because they are still experimental. .Payne wrote a 19-page letter to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) on September 14 detailing his position and protesting the possible loss of his job..READ MORE: Senior Alberta doctor faces job loss for refusing vaccine.September 28, 2021 – The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) said it would sue AHS on behalf of any Alberta doctor who is fired for refusing to be immunized against COVID-19..The JCCF jumped into the fray after Payne letter to the CPSA was made public. In it, Payne said he was opposed to mandated vaccination and said the current COVID-19 vaccines hadn’t been fully tested. He vowed he would stand firm, to the point of being fired if necessary..READ MORE: Justice Centre to defend docs who refuse jabs.September 29, 2021 – Alberta’s new health minister Jason Copping, responded to an open letter sent by AHS workers who are against forced vaccination..Copping says claims in the letter are misleading or incorrect and encourages citizens to listen to chief medical officer of health, Dr. Hinshaw or other health-care professionals and scientists who support vaccination. He also said healthcare workers “have a paramount obligation to protect patients, especially the sickest and most vulnerable patients who are in hospital or continuing care.”.READ MORE: Copping rejects AHS workers open letter.October 6, 2021 - A BC emergency doctor helping in Alberta hospitals said he was relieved of duty for administering Ivermectin to patients in a small central-Alberta hospital.. Dr. Daniel NagaseDr. Daniel Nagase .Dr. Daniel Nagase graduated from Dalhousie University in 2004 and went on to work as an emergency doctor for 10 years. In 2015, Nagase went on to practice in rural, under-served communities in Alberta..Nagase spoke at the Vancouver Art Gallery last Friday for the 75 Anniversary of the Nuremberg Code and shared his experience in the Rimbey, Alta. hospital while he was caring for three COVID19 patients in September..READ MORE: Emergency doctor says authorities are ‘standing in the way of life-saving medications’.October 6, 2021 – More than 3,500 healthcare workers who referred to themselves as “Healthcare Professionals United” responded to Copping’s reply and pointed out they have yet to hear from Alberta Health Services..“We believe that open dialogue is essential for a healthy democracy,” the letter states..The letter also reminded Copping the group consisted of vaccinated and unvaccinated workers who are pro-choice and pro-evidence-based medicine..READ MORE: Open-letter debate continues between healthcare workers and AHS.October 13, 2021 - Nagase, who sat down with Whistle Stop Cafe owner Chris Scott for an interview, said Alberta Health Services only have themselves to blame for the current COVID-19 crisis..Scott made headlines throughout the year for his battle with the province over COVID-19 restrictions..Nagase, who worked in rural Alberta hospitals for more than half a decade, said he witnessed AHS cutting hospital services and beds year after year. He says over two decades under AHS, there has become a “severe bed shortage.”.READ MORE: WATCH: Banned doctor calls out AHS for creating health crisis. Julianne Johnson, Alberta registered nurseJulianne Johnson, Alberta registered nurse .October 15 – 2021 - Julianne Johnson quit her job as a registered nurse even though she said it was a “profession that runs deep in my veins” and is “part of my core identity.”.Johnson wrote a resignation letter to AHS rebuking its betrayal of healthcare workers and raised alarms about patient care. .READ MORE: SLOBODIAN: Alberta nurse quits in disgust the job she loved.October 22, 2021 - The current COVID-19 crisis is because of a “pandemic caused by vaccination,” said Nagase, in an exclusive interview with the Western Standard..The banned doctor, who came under fire for giving patients an unapproved treatment for COVID-19 while working in Alberta hospitals, said he is not against vaccines, but said “there’s never been anything like this given to humans,” referencing the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines..Nagase said his life has been turned upside down since he began to speak out about his experience being relieved of duty for treating COVID-19 patients with Ivermectin, but added, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”.READ MORE: Banned BC doctor claims COVID ‘the greatest propaganda campaign in human history’.October 22, 2021 - Four Alberta doctors opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates filed a statement of claim against AHS and President and CEO of AHS, Dr. Verna Yiu..The statement of claim said the plaintiffs were also concerned the COVID-19 vaccines are “experimental and have not undergone sufficient long-term safety observation,” and claimed the ingredients for the vaccines have yet to be fully disclosed..READ MORE: Four Alberta doctors file lawsuit against AHS and Yiu over forced vaccination.October 25, 2021 - The Ontario Superior Court issued a temporary injunction preventing the University Health Networks (UHN) from terminating a group of unvaccinated employees. The UHN covers eight hospital sites, including Princess Margaret, Toronto General and Toronto Western hospital..Six UHN employees brought forward an urgent motion in an effort to prevent their termination due to the UHN COVID-19 mandatory vaccination program deadline..READ MORE: Court injunction stops termination of unvaccinated medical staff in Toronto.October 29, 2021 - As deadlines loomed for Albertans facing job losses for not complying with company-mandated vaccine policies, a human rights complaint was filed by a group of Alberta Public Service (APS) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees..The complaint was made to the director of the Alberta Human Rights Commission citing “attempted assault of APS employees and AHS employees.”.The complaint named Deputy Minister of Executive Council Ray Gilmore and AHS President and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu and cited a number of alleged violations of the Alberta Human Rights Act code of conduct..READ MORE: UPDATED WS EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of Alberta healthcare & government workers launch human rights complaint.October 29, 2021 - A group of Alberta doctors claimed Alberta Health data revealed a short-term spike in COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths after vaccination for the virus..“There is a group that I’m a part of on Signal,” said Alberta family doctor Dr. Christy Reich, in reference to a group of doctors and medical specialists she collaborates and shares information with on the messaging platform..Reich said the group consisted of both vaccinated and unvaccinated medical professionals and said after they compared notes, they “all came to the same conclusion” regarding what the graphs were showing..READ MORE: Alberta doctors group claims vaccinations cause short-term spike in COVID cases, deaths. Dr. Daniel BothaDr. Daniel Botha .November 5, 2021 - A Calgary doctor's office was raided by CPSA officials searching for files of people for whom he granted COVID-19 exemptions. One of the doctor's patients is lawyer Jeffrey Rath who was, at the time, engaged in a lawsuit against the college over vaccine mandates. .“You are expected to cooperate with the inspectors and provide them access to your office records,” said the letter..“They wanted to know if I had written any exemption letters for the vaccine or masks or had been prescribing Ivermectin to my patients,” said Dr. Daniel Botha..READ MORE: UPDATED EXCLUSIVE: Calgary doctor’s office raided by regulators searching for vaccine exemption files.December 1, 2021 – An Alberta certified medical specialist who has worked for Alberta Health Services (AHS) for over a decade says the Alberta government waiting “yet again” until the last minute to extend the deadline for their mandatory vaccination program has been “abusive.”.One day before mandatory vaccinations were to be implemented for all AHS staff – the Alberta government extended the deadline for a second time..“This is almost emotionally abusive as they waited until the last minute,” the specialist told the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity due to the threat of job loss..The specialist called the mandates "discriminatory and unscientific.”.READ MORE: Medical specialist says Alberta Health ‘emotionally abusive’ to staff.December 9, 2021 - Nagase, in an exclusive interview with the Western Standard, called recently-released safety data on Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine 'shocking.' .READ MORE: WATCH: BC Doctor reviews ‘shocking’ stats from released Pfizer documents.December 13, 2021 - The JCCF said it was working with another group of Alberta doctors who filed a statement of claim and an injunction application against AHS for its mandatory vaccination policy. The four doctors are now facing termination, restrictions, and disciplinary action..READ MORE: Another four Alberta docs sue AHS over COVID vaccine mandates.December 16, 2021 - Chan, who handles low-risk deliveries as a central-Alberta family doctor, said he received a “strange reaction” after looking into a patient’s stillbirth as a possible adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine..Dr. Gregory Chan identified a problem with his patient’s baby during a routine checkup and further testing confirmed her baby was stillborn. Chan’s patient had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in her second trimester then lost the baby at some point within two months of her vaccination. Further testing did not produce any clear answers as to the cause of the baby’s death in utero..READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta doc’s probe into possible vax-related stillbirth gets pushback.December 17, 2021 – Four Alberta doctors failed in their bid to halt the mandatory vaccination policy brought in by Alberta Health Services..Their lawyers with the JCCF said Court of Queen’s Bench Justice John Henderson denied a request for an interim order to stop the AHS policy..READ MORE: Four AHS docs lose bid to stop mandatory vaccination policy. Alberta Boot ProjectPhoto of a paramedic's boots .December 20, 2021 - The Alberta Boot Project, a group of AHS and frontline workers, set up a display at the legislature in Edmonton to bring awareness to medical workers who were terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccines. .“We want people to be aware of the human cost these (COVID-19) vaccine mandates have taken,” said organizer Kate King, a primary care paramedic serving a region east of Edmonton for the last 10 years..King and 10 volunteers braved temperatures in the -20Cs to set up more than 700 pairs of shoes and boots on the legislature steps in Edmonton along with signs communicating the owner's position and length of service with AHS. .READ MORE: Suspended AHS workers show ‘human cost’ of vax-mandate at Alberta Legislature.December 23, 2021 – The Alberta Government directed AHS to offer all 1,400 full and part-time staff who were placed on unpaid leave a chance to return to work with the option of COVID-19 testing. The province made the announcement in the wake of the spread of the Omicron variant and growing staffing shortages. .“In light of the risk posed by the Omicron variant, we need to adjust the policy to maximize capacity and avoid losing any staff if we can while still keeping patients safe," said a government release. .READ MORE: UPDATED: AHS backtracks, allows all unvaxxed staff back to work with COVID testing.December 23, 2021 - Alberta anesthesiologist Dr. Joanna Moser — placed on leave without pay by Alberta Health Services (AHS) — said the provincial government’s constant backtracking on the COVID-19 vaccine policy has been traumatizing..Moser, a staff anesthesiologist at the South Health Campus and clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary, also assists in the Red Deer regional hospital with locum privileges..Moser was put on leave without pay by AHS along with more than 1,400 other medical workers who did not provide proof of vaccination by the set deadline of December 13. The original deadline of October 30 was bumped to November 30 before it was moved again to December 13..“This has created psychological trauma and constitutes abuse from our employer. It’s bullying and harassment for those of us that love our jobs and just want to be able to take care of our patients,” Moser told the Western Standard on Thursday night..READ MORE: Alberta doctor calls AHS ‘yo-yo’ vax policy traumatizing.December 28, 2021 – Moser, along with her lawyer Jeff Rath of Rath & Company, spoke with the Western Standard in the wake of the Alberta government instructing AHS to give unvaccinated healthcare workers the option to return to work with frequent rapid testing at their expense..Although Moser has had deadly allergic reactions to previous vaccinations and was provided with a medical exception by two physicians, AHS rejected her request for accomodation. .READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta lawyer and doctor weigh in on AHS backtracking on unvaxxed staff returning to work.December 29, 2021 – In an exclusive interview with the Western Standard, an Alberta doctor, paramedic and nurse shared their thoughts on how the Alberta government and Alberta Health Services handled the pandemic and discussed how they felt the narrative was being controlled..Each healthcare worker asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal from their employer. Their names were not shared and their voices were altered to protect their identity during the interview..READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta frontline workers unmask AHS and reveal what the public isn’t being told.January 20, 2022 – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) filed hundreds of grievances over AHS' COVID-19 testing program, as hundreds of unvaccinated staff returned to work..AUPE said the lack of available tests and costs associated with testing for many of the staff and medical workers are creating “barriers” for their return to work..READ MORE: AUPE files hundreds of complaints over AHS testing policy for unvaxxed workers.March 1, 2022 - According to leaked information, Jason Copping, Alberta’s health minister, was expected to announce the lifting of COVID-19 vaccination mandates for AHS workers mid March, according to a draft statement obtained by Global News. .The draft directive also said healthcare workers hired after Nov. 30, 2021, are required to be fully immunized against COVID-19 and “temporary testing of workers” may be introduced to reduce transmission..READ MORE: UCP set to drop vax passports for AHS workers, province moves to Step 2 of reopening plan.March 17, 2022 - Despite vaccine mandates lifting across Alberta and the country, unvaccinated medical students hit yet another wall preventing the completion of their studies..An unexpected “grey area” was created for students permitted to return to their studies by their respective post-secondary institutions, however, their residency placements are now in jeopardy as AHS only partially lifted its vaccine mandates. .READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Alberta medical students hit roadblocks with loophole vax mandates.March 28, 2022 – Several vaccine-injured people, including Alberta MLA Shane Getson, Shaun Mulldoon from Langley, BC, and Corinne Moore from outside Toronto, Ontario, spoke with the Western Standard about their reactions from the COVID-19 vaccines..READ MORE: WATCH: Epidemic of vaccine injuries.In the interview, Dr. Chan spoke about his experience reporting roughly 50 vaccine injury claims for his patients to AHS' Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) reporting system, and said it was an uphill battle..Another anonymous Alberta physician said they had seen nearly 100 vaccine-injured people come through their clinic..READ MORE: Alberta docs face uphill battle filing vax injury claims with AHS.April 18, 2022 – Nagase sat down with the Western Standard to review images from COVID-19 vaccines and found they showed lack of “elements of life.”.Vaccines are made up of parts of or whole bacteria or virus. According to The History of Vaccines website, bacteria or a virus is grown to create the content of a vaccine which is derived from biological material. The active component of a vaccine is called an antigen and it is what triggers an immune response when inside the body..READ MORE: WATCH: Dr. Nagase reviews images from COVID vaccines, shows lack of ‘elements of life’.April 28, 2022 – The Good Samaritan Society (GSS), with locations in Alberta and British Columbia, informed all unvaccinated staff they have until May 13 to provide proof of vaccination or be terminated..A registered nurse, who worked with GSS for 15 years, spoke with the Western Standard under the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from her employer..Although AHS announced its mandatory vaccine policy for medical workers was to lift on March 15, some facilities, including the GSS, kept the policy in place and have not permitted unvaccinated staff to return to work..Read More: Good Samaritan Society in Alberta and BC set to fire all unvaxxed staff in May.July 11, 2022 - Several Alberta doctors and a civil liberties lawyer raised concerns around the growing trend of deaths labelled as ill-defined or of unknown causes, now listed as Alberta’s top killer..Government of Alberta statistics for 2021 are out and indicate the top cause of death in the province is now deaths with unknown causes (3,362), followed by dementia (2,135), and COVID-19 (1,950) rounding out the top three..Although Brett Farrell, press secretary for the Minister of Service Alberta told the Western Standard those numbers have decreased by approximately 35%, the category of ill-defined deaths has barely registered in years past..READ MORE: Alberta doctors, lawyer raise questions over rise in deaths of unknown cause.July 11, 2022 – Several paramedics and other healthcare workers said despite media claims hospitals were overwhelmed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, they did not see much of a change until after the rollout of the vaccines..All said they started to see an increase in medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, chronic infections, and women with menstrual issues after the vaccines were rolled out. But they said a culture of silence in the healthcare industry, particularly among doctors, was preventing the issues from being openly discussed..EXCLUSIVE: Paramedics speak out about empty hospitals, probable vax injuries during COVID.July 18, 2022 – AHS rescinded its mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements for all staff and medical students..Effective July 18, AHS healthcare workers would no longer be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment. All new hires and students requiring placement in an AHS facility would also no longer be required to be immunized against COVID-19..UPDATED: AHS rescinds all COVID-19 vax requirements; NDP calls decision 'absurd'.July 19, 2022 – Alberta medical professionals, lawyers and a post-secondary student said AHS lifting its COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy on July 18 was a step in the right direction, but for many the fight isn't over..AHS confirmed all new hires and students will not be required to be immunized for COVID-19 upon hire or placement and added, based on current evidence, "...immunization without boosters have limited effectiveness in reducing transmission of the Omicron variants.".READ MORE: Alberta healthcare workers, lawyers, student have mixed reviews over AHS lifting vax mandates.Tune in Thursday, August 11 @ 7 p.m. for the final installment of the Western Standard's COVID FREEDOM HEROES seven-part series featuring Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich. Lich was instramental in helping to fundraise over $10 million to support the efforts of Canadian truckers and protestors that occupied Ottawa for peaceful protests in February. Lich was arrested on two occasions due to her involvement in the Freedom Convoy.
COVID FREEDOM HEROES — a Western Standard seven-part series — is recognizing individuals and groups from the legal, law enforcement and medical establishment, along with everyday people that stood up for Canadians' rights and freedoms during the COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates..Part 6 of the series focuses on the efforts of several healthcare workers who raising questions that challenged the mainstream narrative from governments and medical agencies across Canada, including Alberta family physician Dr. Gregory Chan and Calgary pediatric neurologist Dr. Eric Payne.. Dr. Gregory ChanDr. Gregory Chan . Dr. Eric PayneDr. Eric Payne .Both doctors spoke with the Western Standard about their battles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, not only against AHS-mandated COVID-19 vaccines, but also against the "overreach" of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) limiting treatment options for COVID-19 patients..Here is a timeline of the events where doctors, including Chan and Payne, spoke out against the lockdown measures, mandated COVID-19 vaccines, and overreach by AHS, the government and their medical regulators: .November 17, 2020 - Dr. Roger Hodkinson, a top Edmonton doctor in virology, said Albertans “are being lead down the garden path” by government health officials in their efforts to stop the COVID-19 virus and called the virus no worse than a "bad flu" during a city of Edmonton council committee meeting. .Hodkinson is the CEO of Western Medical Assessments, and has been the company’s medical director for over 20 years. He received his general medical degrees from Cambridge University in the UK, and then became a Royal College certified pathologist in Canada (FRCPC) following a residency in Vancouver. He also taught at the University of Alberta and runs MutantDx, a molecular diagnostics company in North Carolina.. Dr. Roger HodkinsonDr. Roger Hodkinson .READ MORE: Senior doc says Alberta politicians ‘playing medicine,’ media driving ‘hysteria’.November 19, 2020 - Hodkinson, who caused a firestorm after his address about COVID-19 to a city of Edmonton council committee, says all businesses should be allowed open and lives return to normal, as recommended by the Great Barrington Declaration, a document signed by a large group of top doctors and medical experts from around the world, in Great Barrington, Mass..The declaration group issued a letter in October 2020 that said they had "grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies," and said more focused protection was needed. .READ MORE: Top Alberta doc urges health officials follow Great Barrington Declaration.December 11, 2020 – Dr. Dennis Modry, a clinical associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Alberta and founding director of the Heart, Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program, wrote and publicly released an open letter addressed to Premier Jason Kenney. The letter blasted Kenney for putting the province into another COVID-19 lockdown. .READ MORE: MUST-READ: Open letter from a doctor to Jason Kenney. Dr. Dennis ModryCourtesy Dr. Modry .December 17, 2020 – Modry said he received support from fellow physicians around the world – but many fear going public with their views. The open letter addressed to Kenney went viral and was read hundreds of thousands of times around the world..“I’ve had lots of doctors say they support what I said but they can’t afford the risk to say that publicly,” Modry told the Western Standard. .READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Senior doctor calling for ending the lockdown says he’s backed by other physicians – but they’re afraid to speak.December 18, 2020 - The CPSA issued an official statement distancing themselves from Modry after the heart surgeon pioneer released his open letter to Kenney. .The letter questioned the premier's decision to put the province into another lockdown and impose a province-wide mask-mandate in a bid to stop the spiraling numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths..The CPSA noted Modry is not a "currently practicing physician," and said he did not have "expertise in public health." .READ MORE: College of Physicians respond to dissenting doctor’s letter, UCP declines to comment.March 17, 2021 – Kenney responded to Modry's open letter saying the doctor was wrong about his conclusions about lockdown measures. .in his open letter, Modry said he hasdthoroughly researched the most recent medical studies from around the world that showed lockdowns don’t work, and any lockdown must come at the very beginning when the virus has only been detected in one or two areas..READ MORE: Kenney finally responds to top doc’s letter blasting his pandemic plans.March 30, 2021 – The Great Barrington Declaration saw a massive uptick in support. .The group behind the declaration, issued a letter in October that said, “...as infectious disease epidemiologists and public health scientists, we have grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies, and recommend an approach we call Focused Protection.”.The group said lockdowns around the world are causing more problems than they solve..Signators includes Dr. Martin Kulldorff — professor of medicine at Harvard University, Dr. Sunetra Gupta — professor at Oxford University, an epidemiologist with expertise in immunology, vaccine development, and mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya — professor at Stanford University Medical School..At the time, it was also co-signed by 20 other medical experts. Since being posted online, tens of thousands of other medical professionals have signed the document along with hundreds of thousands of people around the world. .READ MORE: Great Barrington Declaration on COVID lockdowns sees boom in popularity.March 31, 2021 – Modry penned another letter to Kenney in a continuing battle of correspondence over COVID-19 lockdown regulations..Kenney finally replied to Modry's open letter March 17 and said Modry’s arguments contained incomplete data..Modry’s response also included the latest health study and scientific research into COVID-19..READ MORE: Modry fires off another missive to Kenney over COVID lockdown. Dr Jay BhattacharyaDr Jay Bhattacharya .May 23, 2021 - Stanford University professor, Jay Bhattacharya, a key witness in a constitutional challenge against COVID-19 measures in Manitoba, said all provinces should end lockdowns, change how they run PCR tests, and avoid vaccinating teenagers..READ MORE: Dr J opposes lockdowns, teenage COVID vaccinations, misused PCR tests.May 28, 2021 - Hodkinson said Kenney’s reopening plan is “absolute twaddle!”.“Again, purely arbitrary decisions, with no scientific backing whatsoever,” he said of Kenney's Stage 1 plans to open Alberta for Summer. .READ MORE: Senior Alberta doc calls Kenney reopening plan ‘absolute twaddle’.July 25, 2021 - Hodkinson held nothing back as he shredded the COVID-19 narrative in an outdoor speech in his home city of Edmonton. The doctor, in his World Wide Freedom Day speech, said vaccines are not called safe until they are "put through five to seven years of clinical trials." .READ MORE: Hodkinson’s impassioned speech rouses Edmonton crowd.September 1, 2021 – AHS announced it would require all employees – including frontline healthcare workers, physicians, and contracted providers – to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by October 31, calling the measure "extraordinary but necessary." .READ MORE: Alberta Health Services makes vaccination mandatory for all staff. Rally at Olympic Plaze, CalgaryRally at Olympic Plaze, Calgary .September 12, 2021 – Thousands of Calgarians jammed Olympic Plaza in support of AHS and frontline workers who oppose forced vaccinations..More than two thousand stood in solidarity with Calgary firefighters, police, EMS, nurses, doctors, AHS and City of Calgary workers opposed to mandated vaccines as a requirement of their employment..READ MORE: WATCH: Thousands rally in Calgary against mandatory vaccinations.September 22, 2021 – The number of patients in Alberta hospitals was actually going down when Kenney brought in the latest COVID-19 lockdown restrictions last week, claimed Dr. Gary Davidson, an emergency doctor in Red Deer..At an event put on by Mountain View Freedom in central Alberta September 18, Davidson spoke to a gathering of close to 1,000 people and told them hospital admittance numbers were trending down. .According to Davidson, this “health care crisis” didn’t start with COVID-19, but began six years ago under the Notley government which began to cut back nursing positions in his Red Deer emergency department. .READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta doctor says hospital capacity numbers manipulated by AHS.September 24, 2021 – Scott Crawford said the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system in the province is overwhelmed and on the verge of collapse..Along with the stress of his job, the veteran paramedic said he was dealing with the pressures of disobeying an order to get a COVID-19 vaccination. AHS told workers they had until October 31 to be vaccinated or face consequences, including firing..READ MORE: Paramedic faces job loss for refusing COVID jab.September 24, 2021 - Thousands of Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees sent an open letter to their bosses demanding it drop its mandatory vaccination for staff policy..The letter’s 3,544 signators said they included both vaccinated and unvaccinated physicians, nurses, first responders and health care professionals that oppose the AHS policy..Citing the severe strain the health care system was facing, the signatories shared concerns about providing adequate patient care with the looming threat of potential loss of staff, through the letter drafted by Airdrie constitutional lawyer Carol Crosson..READ MORE: Over 3,500 health care workers demand AHS rescind vaccine mandate.READ MORE: OPEN LETTER: Health care workers against mandatory vaccinations.September 27, 2021 - Facing potential job loss, Payne said he is "pro-vaccine" and he and his family are all caught up on their yearly flu shots, but he would not get the COVID-19 vaccines because they are still experimental. .Payne wrote a 19-page letter to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) on September 14 detailing his position and protesting the possible loss of his job..READ MORE: Senior Alberta doctor faces job loss for refusing vaccine.September 28, 2021 – The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) said it would sue AHS on behalf of any Alberta doctor who is fired for refusing to be immunized against COVID-19..The JCCF jumped into the fray after Payne letter to the CPSA was made public. In it, Payne said he was opposed to mandated vaccination and said the current COVID-19 vaccines hadn’t been fully tested. He vowed he would stand firm, to the point of being fired if necessary..READ MORE: Justice Centre to defend docs who refuse jabs.September 29, 2021 – Alberta’s new health minister Jason Copping, responded to an open letter sent by AHS workers who are against forced vaccination..Copping says claims in the letter are misleading or incorrect and encourages citizens to listen to chief medical officer of health, Dr. Hinshaw or other health-care professionals and scientists who support vaccination. He also said healthcare workers “have a paramount obligation to protect patients, especially the sickest and most vulnerable patients who are in hospital or continuing care.”.READ MORE: Copping rejects AHS workers open letter.October 6, 2021 - A BC emergency doctor helping in Alberta hospitals said he was relieved of duty for administering Ivermectin to patients in a small central-Alberta hospital.. Dr. Daniel NagaseDr. Daniel Nagase .Dr. Daniel Nagase graduated from Dalhousie University in 2004 and went on to work as an emergency doctor for 10 years. In 2015, Nagase went on to practice in rural, under-served communities in Alberta..Nagase spoke at the Vancouver Art Gallery last Friday for the 75 Anniversary of the Nuremberg Code and shared his experience in the Rimbey, Alta. hospital while he was caring for three COVID19 patients in September..READ MORE: Emergency doctor says authorities are ‘standing in the way of life-saving medications’.October 6, 2021 – More than 3,500 healthcare workers who referred to themselves as “Healthcare Professionals United” responded to Copping’s reply and pointed out they have yet to hear from Alberta Health Services..“We believe that open dialogue is essential for a healthy democracy,” the letter states..The letter also reminded Copping the group consisted of vaccinated and unvaccinated workers who are pro-choice and pro-evidence-based medicine..READ MORE: Open-letter debate continues between healthcare workers and AHS.October 13, 2021 - Nagase, who sat down with Whistle Stop Cafe owner Chris Scott for an interview, said Alberta Health Services only have themselves to blame for the current COVID-19 crisis..Scott made headlines throughout the year for his battle with the province over COVID-19 restrictions..Nagase, who worked in rural Alberta hospitals for more than half a decade, said he witnessed AHS cutting hospital services and beds year after year. He says over two decades under AHS, there has become a “severe bed shortage.”.READ MORE: WATCH: Banned doctor calls out AHS for creating health crisis. Julianne Johnson, Alberta registered nurseJulianne Johnson, Alberta registered nurse .October 15 – 2021 - Julianne Johnson quit her job as a registered nurse even though she said it was a “profession that runs deep in my veins” and is “part of my core identity.”.Johnson wrote a resignation letter to AHS rebuking its betrayal of healthcare workers and raised alarms about patient care. .READ MORE: SLOBODIAN: Alberta nurse quits in disgust the job she loved.October 22, 2021 - The current COVID-19 crisis is because of a “pandemic caused by vaccination,” said Nagase, in an exclusive interview with the Western Standard..The banned doctor, who came under fire for giving patients an unapproved treatment for COVID-19 while working in Alberta hospitals, said he is not against vaccines, but said “there’s never been anything like this given to humans,” referencing the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines..Nagase said his life has been turned upside down since he began to speak out about his experience being relieved of duty for treating COVID-19 patients with Ivermectin, but added, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”.READ MORE: Banned BC doctor claims COVID ‘the greatest propaganda campaign in human history’.October 22, 2021 - Four Alberta doctors opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates filed a statement of claim against AHS and President and CEO of AHS, Dr. Verna Yiu..The statement of claim said the plaintiffs were also concerned the COVID-19 vaccines are “experimental and have not undergone sufficient long-term safety observation,” and claimed the ingredients for the vaccines have yet to be fully disclosed..READ MORE: Four Alberta doctors file lawsuit against AHS and Yiu over forced vaccination.October 25, 2021 - The Ontario Superior Court issued a temporary injunction preventing the University Health Networks (UHN) from terminating a group of unvaccinated employees. The UHN covers eight hospital sites, including Princess Margaret, Toronto General and Toronto Western hospital..Six UHN employees brought forward an urgent motion in an effort to prevent their termination due to the UHN COVID-19 mandatory vaccination program deadline..READ MORE: Court injunction stops termination of unvaccinated medical staff in Toronto.October 29, 2021 - As deadlines loomed for Albertans facing job losses for not complying with company-mandated vaccine policies, a human rights complaint was filed by a group of Alberta Public Service (APS) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees..The complaint was made to the director of the Alberta Human Rights Commission citing “attempted assault of APS employees and AHS employees.”.The complaint named Deputy Minister of Executive Council Ray Gilmore and AHS President and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu and cited a number of alleged violations of the Alberta Human Rights Act code of conduct..READ MORE: UPDATED WS EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of Alberta healthcare & government workers launch human rights complaint.October 29, 2021 - A group of Alberta doctors claimed Alberta Health data revealed a short-term spike in COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths after vaccination for the virus..“There is a group that I’m a part of on Signal,” said Alberta family doctor Dr. Christy Reich, in reference to a group of doctors and medical specialists she collaborates and shares information with on the messaging platform..Reich said the group consisted of both vaccinated and unvaccinated medical professionals and said after they compared notes, they “all came to the same conclusion” regarding what the graphs were showing..READ MORE: Alberta doctors group claims vaccinations cause short-term spike in COVID cases, deaths. Dr. Daniel BothaDr. Daniel Botha .November 5, 2021 - A Calgary doctor's office was raided by CPSA officials searching for files of people for whom he granted COVID-19 exemptions. One of the doctor's patients is lawyer Jeffrey Rath who was, at the time, engaged in a lawsuit against the college over vaccine mandates. .“You are expected to cooperate with the inspectors and provide them access to your office records,” said the letter..“They wanted to know if I had written any exemption letters for the vaccine or masks or had been prescribing Ivermectin to my patients,” said Dr. Daniel Botha..READ MORE: UPDATED EXCLUSIVE: Calgary doctor’s office raided by regulators searching for vaccine exemption files.December 1, 2021 – An Alberta certified medical specialist who has worked for Alberta Health Services (AHS) for over a decade says the Alberta government waiting “yet again” until the last minute to extend the deadline for their mandatory vaccination program has been “abusive.”.One day before mandatory vaccinations were to be implemented for all AHS staff – the Alberta government extended the deadline for a second time..“This is almost emotionally abusive as they waited until the last minute,” the specialist told the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity due to the threat of job loss..The specialist called the mandates "discriminatory and unscientific.”.READ MORE: Medical specialist says Alberta Health ‘emotionally abusive’ to staff.December 9, 2021 - Nagase, in an exclusive interview with the Western Standard, called recently-released safety data on Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine 'shocking.' .READ MORE: WATCH: BC Doctor reviews ‘shocking’ stats from released Pfizer documents.December 13, 2021 - The JCCF said it was working with another group of Alberta doctors who filed a statement of claim and an injunction application against AHS for its mandatory vaccination policy. The four doctors are now facing termination, restrictions, and disciplinary action..READ MORE: Another four Alberta docs sue AHS over COVID vaccine mandates.December 16, 2021 - Chan, who handles low-risk deliveries as a central-Alberta family doctor, said he received a “strange reaction” after looking into a patient’s stillbirth as a possible adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine..Dr. Gregory Chan identified a problem with his patient’s baby during a routine checkup and further testing confirmed her baby was stillborn. Chan’s patient had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in her second trimester then lost the baby at some point within two months of her vaccination. Further testing did not produce any clear answers as to the cause of the baby’s death in utero..READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta doc’s probe into possible vax-related stillbirth gets pushback.December 17, 2021 – Four Alberta doctors failed in their bid to halt the mandatory vaccination policy brought in by Alberta Health Services..Their lawyers with the JCCF said Court of Queen’s Bench Justice John Henderson denied a request for an interim order to stop the AHS policy..READ MORE: Four AHS docs lose bid to stop mandatory vaccination policy. Alberta Boot ProjectPhoto of a paramedic's boots .December 20, 2021 - The Alberta Boot Project, a group of AHS and frontline workers, set up a display at the legislature in Edmonton to bring awareness to medical workers who were terminated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccines. .“We want people to be aware of the human cost these (COVID-19) vaccine mandates have taken,” said organizer Kate King, a primary care paramedic serving a region east of Edmonton for the last 10 years..King and 10 volunteers braved temperatures in the -20Cs to set up more than 700 pairs of shoes and boots on the legislature steps in Edmonton along with signs communicating the owner's position and length of service with AHS. .READ MORE: Suspended AHS workers show ‘human cost’ of vax-mandate at Alberta Legislature.December 23, 2021 – The Alberta Government directed AHS to offer all 1,400 full and part-time staff who were placed on unpaid leave a chance to return to work with the option of COVID-19 testing. The province made the announcement in the wake of the spread of the Omicron variant and growing staffing shortages. .“In light of the risk posed by the Omicron variant, we need to adjust the policy to maximize capacity and avoid losing any staff if we can while still keeping patients safe," said a government release. .READ MORE: UPDATED: AHS backtracks, allows all unvaxxed staff back to work with COVID testing.December 23, 2021 - Alberta anesthesiologist Dr. Joanna Moser — placed on leave without pay by Alberta Health Services (AHS) — said the provincial government’s constant backtracking on the COVID-19 vaccine policy has been traumatizing..Moser, a staff anesthesiologist at the South Health Campus and clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary, also assists in the Red Deer regional hospital with locum privileges..Moser was put on leave without pay by AHS along with more than 1,400 other medical workers who did not provide proof of vaccination by the set deadline of December 13. The original deadline of October 30 was bumped to November 30 before it was moved again to December 13..“This has created psychological trauma and constitutes abuse from our employer. It’s bullying and harassment for those of us that love our jobs and just want to be able to take care of our patients,” Moser told the Western Standard on Thursday night..READ MORE: Alberta doctor calls AHS ‘yo-yo’ vax policy traumatizing.December 28, 2021 – Moser, along with her lawyer Jeff Rath of Rath & Company, spoke with the Western Standard in the wake of the Alberta government instructing AHS to give unvaccinated healthcare workers the option to return to work with frequent rapid testing at their expense..Although Moser has had deadly allergic reactions to previous vaccinations and was provided with a medical exception by two physicians, AHS rejected her request for accomodation. .READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta lawyer and doctor weigh in on AHS backtracking on unvaxxed staff returning to work.December 29, 2021 – In an exclusive interview with the Western Standard, an Alberta doctor, paramedic and nurse shared their thoughts on how the Alberta government and Alberta Health Services handled the pandemic and discussed how they felt the narrative was being controlled..Each healthcare worker asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal from their employer. Their names were not shared and their voices were altered to protect their identity during the interview..READ MORE: WATCH: Alberta frontline workers unmask AHS and reveal what the public isn’t being told.January 20, 2022 – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) filed hundreds of grievances over AHS' COVID-19 testing program, as hundreds of unvaccinated staff returned to work..AUPE said the lack of available tests and costs associated with testing for many of the staff and medical workers are creating “barriers” for their return to work..READ MORE: AUPE files hundreds of complaints over AHS testing policy for unvaxxed workers.March 1, 2022 - According to leaked information, Jason Copping, Alberta’s health minister, was expected to announce the lifting of COVID-19 vaccination mandates for AHS workers mid March, according to a draft statement obtained by Global News. .The draft directive also said healthcare workers hired after Nov. 30, 2021, are required to be fully immunized against COVID-19 and “temporary testing of workers” may be introduced to reduce transmission..READ MORE: UCP set to drop vax passports for AHS workers, province moves to Step 2 of reopening plan.March 17, 2022 - Despite vaccine mandates lifting across Alberta and the country, unvaccinated medical students hit yet another wall preventing the completion of their studies..An unexpected “grey area” was created for students permitted to return to their studies by their respective post-secondary institutions, however, their residency placements are now in jeopardy as AHS only partially lifted its vaccine mandates. .READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Alberta medical students hit roadblocks with loophole vax mandates.March 28, 2022 – Several vaccine-injured people, including Alberta MLA Shane Getson, Shaun Mulldoon from Langley, BC, and Corinne Moore from outside Toronto, Ontario, spoke with the Western Standard about their reactions from the COVID-19 vaccines..READ MORE: WATCH: Epidemic of vaccine injuries.In the interview, Dr. Chan spoke about his experience reporting roughly 50 vaccine injury claims for his patients to AHS' Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) reporting system, and said it was an uphill battle..Another anonymous Alberta physician said they had seen nearly 100 vaccine-injured people come through their clinic..READ MORE: Alberta docs face uphill battle filing vax injury claims with AHS.April 18, 2022 – Nagase sat down with the Western Standard to review images from COVID-19 vaccines and found they showed lack of “elements of life.”.Vaccines are made up of parts of or whole bacteria or virus. According to The History of Vaccines website, bacteria or a virus is grown to create the content of a vaccine which is derived from biological material. The active component of a vaccine is called an antigen and it is what triggers an immune response when inside the body..READ MORE: WATCH: Dr. Nagase reviews images from COVID vaccines, shows lack of ‘elements of life’.April 28, 2022 – The Good Samaritan Society (GSS), with locations in Alberta and British Columbia, informed all unvaccinated staff they have until May 13 to provide proof of vaccination or be terminated..A registered nurse, who worked with GSS for 15 years, spoke with the Western Standard under the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from her employer..Although AHS announced its mandatory vaccine policy for medical workers was to lift on March 15, some facilities, including the GSS, kept the policy in place and have not permitted unvaccinated staff to return to work..Read More: Good Samaritan Society in Alberta and BC set to fire all unvaxxed staff in May.July 11, 2022 - Several Alberta doctors and a civil liberties lawyer raised concerns around the growing trend of deaths labelled as ill-defined or of unknown causes, now listed as Alberta’s top killer..Government of Alberta statistics for 2021 are out and indicate the top cause of death in the province is now deaths with unknown causes (3,362), followed by dementia (2,135), and COVID-19 (1,950) rounding out the top three..Although Brett Farrell, press secretary for the Minister of Service Alberta told the Western Standard those numbers have decreased by approximately 35%, the category of ill-defined deaths has barely registered in years past..READ MORE: Alberta doctors, lawyer raise questions over rise in deaths of unknown cause.July 11, 2022 – Several paramedics and other healthcare workers said despite media claims hospitals were overwhelmed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, they did not see much of a change until after the rollout of the vaccines..All said they started to see an increase in medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, chronic infections, and women with menstrual issues after the vaccines were rolled out. But they said a culture of silence in the healthcare industry, particularly among doctors, was preventing the issues from being openly discussed..EXCLUSIVE: Paramedics speak out about empty hospitals, probable vax injuries during COVID.July 18, 2022 – AHS rescinded its mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements for all staff and medical students..Effective July 18, AHS healthcare workers would no longer be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment. All new hires and students requiring placement in an AHS facility would also no longer be required to be immunized against COVID-19..UPDATED: AHS rescinds all COVID-19 vax requirements; NDP calls decision 'absurd'.July 19, 2022 – Alberta medical professionals, lawyers and a post-secondary student said AHS lifting its COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy on July 18 was a step in the right direction, but for many the fight isn't over..AHS confirmed all new hires and students will not be required to be immunized for COVID-19 upon hire or placement and added, based on current evidence, "...immunization without boosters have limited effectiveness in reducing transmission of the Omicron variants.".READ MORE: Alberta healthcare workers, lawyers, student have mixed reviews over AHS lifting vax mandates.Tune in Thursday, August 11 @ 7 p.m. for the final installment of the Western Standard's COVID FREEDOM HEROES seven-part series featuring Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich. Lich was instramental in helping to fundraise over $10 million to support the efforts of Canadian truckers and protestors that occupied Ottawa for peaceful protests in February. Lich was arrested on two occasions due to her involvement in the Freedom Convoy.
