Media representatives for BC officials are not providing answers and or data regarding efficacy of the province’s vaccine passport system, which remains in place..“By order of the provincial health officer,” proof-of-vaccination against COVID is required to access a variety of events, services, and businesses across BC and applies to those ages 12 and older..Settings where vaccine passports apply include: indoor organized events such as weddings and funerals, indoor dining, concerts, movie theatres, gyms and fitness centres, and rec centre swimming pools. Moreover, unvaccinated university students are not permitted to stay in student housing and unvaccinated parents remain banned from attending their children’s indoor sporting events. The list goes on..Despite several Canadian provinces abolishing vaccine passports, BC is hell-bent on keeping its own in place, having extended the mandate with a tentative expiration date set for June 30, 2022..“We know that this is a very important and effective tool at mitigating the risks in those many settings where the vaccine card is in play,” said provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, in January..“Whether you’re five, 55, or 95 … get your vaccine.”.Despite Henry repeatedly praising the passport’s efficacy at “mitigating risk” in settings where the vaccine card is mandatory, specific details have not been provided..During a Sep. 20, 2021 staff forum, the chief medical health officer of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Dr. Patricia Daly said vaccine passports are not intended to prevent transmission..“The vaccine passport requires certain people to be vaccinated to do certain discretionary activities such as go to restaurants, movies, gyms … not because these places are high risk,” said Daly..“We’re not actually seeing COVID transmission in these settings, it’s really to create an incentive to improve our vaccination coverage.”.Five months after Daly’s comments VCH has not commented on whether it stands by its chief medical health officer’s words..“I’m sorry for the delay. It’s been a hectic time here as we adjust processes and information in the face of Omicron. I’ll get back to this and try to get you a response today or tomorrow. Thanks for your patience,” Deana Lancaster, communications leader, VCH told the Western Standard on January 18, 2022..VCH never followed up and has since ignored emails from the Western Standard..Fast forward to February 8, 2022 when Premier John Horgan said the following:.“Similarly, the immunization cards supported by the vast majority of people are to ensure that the sacrifices that they’ve made have provided benefits for them and their families going forward, and we’ll just see where Dr. Henry wants to go with all of this.”.The Western Standard reached out to provincial media representatives on February 16 asking if the ministry of health stands by its premier’s words. In addition to requesting clarification for Horgan’s comments, the Western Standard asked what the province’s top health authority has to say about Daly’s September 20 remarks..“Is BC’s vaccine passport system intended to reward adults and children 12 and older for being vaccinated and punish those who are not? Is it merely a tool to incentivize vaccination coverage? Or is it intended to prevent transmission of COVID-19?” wrote the Western Standard, including exact quotes from Daly and Horgan..Public affairs officer Sabreena Thouli confirmed the e-mail that had been received was “working on getting a response.”.The response never came and follow up e-mails from the Western Standard have since been ignored..Henry says the province is shifting to a long-term COVID-19 management strategy that is “focused on keeping us safe,” specifically highlighting “immunization.”.Two weeks ago the province implemented a new vaccine mandate to encompass all healthcare workers..“By following public health orders and advice we can do just about anything,” said Horgan..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
