FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Sep 25

Absurdity of Province of Alberta Government’s Approach to Dealing with a Pandemic

by bcurry

One cannot imagine implementing a public health approach to tackling COVID-19 worst than that taken by the province of Alberta under its Premier, Jason Kenny.  As of April 1, 2021, Alberta’s population was almost 4.5 million people.  However, in May, Alberta had over 23,600 active COVID-19 cases — the highest rate of infection in Canada.  Nevertheless, the province permitted the Calgary Stampede to proceed in July with thousands in attendance and relatively minimal restrictions.  Albertans today continue to be among the least vaccinated in Canada, particularly in its rural regions.  Back in June, Premier Kenny announced that the province had reached the vaccination threshold for the third and final phase of reopening, because 70.2 percent of Albertans 12 and over had received at least one dose of a vaccine.  Alberta had already reopened most of its community and business activities, although at reduced capacity.  It was also announced that there would be no more bans on indoor social gatherings; no more limits for gyms, sports and fitness activities; no more capacity limits at restaurants, in retail or for places of worship; and no more advisories against non-essential travel.

Today, a group of the province’s physicians declared that Alberta’s health-care system is on the verge of collapse.  The group is pleading with the government to strengthen public health measures to fend off a relentless fourth wave of COVID-19.  Alberta Health Services noted that there were 258 intensive care beds in the province, which includes 85 added spaces.  It said ICU capacity sat at 87 percent — just slightly below a seven-day average of 91 percent.  Recently, Dr. Verna Yiu, the president and CEO of Alberta Health Services, indicated that intensive care beds are 130 percent over capacity, and critically ill patients are being directed to overflow wards.  Almost 90 percent of the COVID patients in ICUs are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.  The province has even talked about requesting federal military help and whether other larger provinces could take some of those patients currently requiring ICU care. 

Premier Kenny has now publicly apologized to Albertans for his government’s failure to protect them through its public health policies.  The government has had to reinstate an indoor mask mandate for public spaces and an alcohol sales curfew at 10 p.m.  It also announced a $100 incentive for unvaccinated Albertans who get their vaccine shots.  Could be too little, too late!  In the meantime, there are no signs COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are slowing in the province.  There was an unfortunate belief that, even with its low vaccination rates and more open economy, some Albertans would develop personal immunity by being exposed to COVID-19, similar in approach to the failed policies implemented by Sweden.  However, along came the more contagious and deadly Delta variant, causing the hospital system to become overburdened and increased burnout among health-care professionals.

Nevertheless, Alberta continues to act as if the pandemic is over.  An example is the fact that its two professional hockey teams, the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, are being allowed to open the 2021-22 NHL season with 100% fan capacity for games.  Other jurisdictions such as Ontario are only permitting 50% capacity for hockey arenas, while the arenas are requiring proof of full vaccination for entry.  In light of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths, critical care and infectious disease doctors across Alberta are calling on the province’s two NHL teams to drop their plans of playing in front of full-capacity crowds.  They warn that having full hockey arenas will lead to the further spread of COVID-19, worsening an already “dire” situation. 

Previously, Premier Kenney had staunchly refused to mandate proof of vaccination for anyone who wants to use non-essential services such as restaurants, clubs and sports events.  All that changed with the current deteriorating health situation in the province.  Alberta is now planning to introduce a “proof of vaccination” passport for such businesses similar to that being implemented in other provinces such as Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario.  All-in-all, one has to ask if attending a sports event is more important than preventing the further spread of COVID-19?  What an absurd question to ask at this time!  Just ask Albertans.

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Sep 19

Rise in Treatment with Monoclonal Antibodies Used as Expensive Substitute for Vaccines

by bcurry

Everyone knows the old saying: “A once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  Well, apparently, some people don’t believe this.  Instead of simply getting vaccinated against COVID-19, they are waiting to have the coronavirus and then ask to be treated with new experimental treatment using monoclonal antibodies to lessen the effects of COVID-19.  Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off viruses.  Such treatments were originally designed to keep COVID patients out of hospitals and to lessen the symptoms experienced with the disease.  Even in Canada, the treatment was approved back in November 2020.  The authorization for its used was based on promising data that showed that the treatment by infusion appeared to reduce COVID-related hospitalization or emergency room visits in patients at high risk for disease progression.

However, in the U.S., demand for treatment using monoclonal antibodies, especially by the unvaccinated, has begun to outstrip the supply by the federal government.  What is particularly interesting is that the federal government presently is covering the price tag of the remedy — presently at about $2,100 for every dose.  On the other hand, one dose of a COVID vaccine in the U.S. costs only $20.  In addition, while just one vaccination safeguards untold others from exposure, a single infusion only helps one affected individual.

The sudden rise in demand for monoclonal antibodies treatment is seen as partly due to the fact that people who shunned COVID vaccines have embraced antibody treatment.  In turn, it is now reported that waning federal provides and soaring demand from much less-vaccinated Southern states (e.g. North Carolina, Texas and Florida) have brought about what many states have described as massive shortfalls in deliveries.  The Biden administration has already invested $150 million in expanding accessibility to monoclonal antibodies, but the required delivery of the treatment to patients by health care workers is taking a toll on already scarce hospital resources.  Accessibility for the treatment has also become an issue, resulting for example in the transformation of dental clinics, mobile models and auditoriums into infusion facilities in several counties.  Unlike COVID vaccines which are readily available to most Americans, the monoclonal antibodies infusions continue to be inaccessible to many people.

There is little doubt that governments and public health officials are concerned about providing legitimate treatments for COVID patients.  This is why agreements were signed by the American and Canadian governments to purchase new antibody treatments, while maintaining their standards for safety, efficacy and quality.  However, such treatments were never intended to be a replacement for COVID vaccinations which serve as a much more reliable and safe preventative measure.  Championed by mainstream medical doctors and conservative radio hosts alike, the use of antibody treatments have tended unfortunately to take on just that role.  It’s difficult to understand that anyone knowingly would forgo getting vaccinated, relying instead on an experimental treatment in the event that they become infected and sick.  This has become another one of the crazy absurdities emerging out of the pandemic!

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Sep 16

Canada Has Its Own Mini-Trump Running In Current Federal Election

by bcurry

In Canada today, there are a number of small parties running in the current federal election.  Among these is the self-described hard-right populist People’s Party of Canada (CPP) founded in 2018 by Maxime Bernier.  Bernier was once a member of Canada’s Conservative Party, but left due to differing views with the party on a number of policy issues.  Overall, he believed that the Conservative Party had strayed from some of its traditional right-wing beliefs.  In its first election in 2019, the CPP received 1.6 percent of votes, placing it well behind other small parties, such as the Greens (6.5 percent) but well ahead of others, such as the Christian Heritage Party (0.1 percent).  Currently, the CPP does not have a seat in the national parliament.  Recent polls show that the CPP could get slightly more than 6 percent of the popular vote, but again the party is not expected to win any seats, including that in the riding where Maxime Bernier himself is running.

The primary difference with the emergence of Donald Trump in the Republican Party is that Bernier decided to offer his ultra-right views by forming a new national party.  However, many of the same positions taken by Trump’s followers are reflected in the CPP’s platform.  Bernier is attempting to appeal to a portion of the Canadian electorate who are disgruntled with the current political establishment in Ottawa, be it Conservative or Liberal, and are simply angry about the current state of Canadian society and big governments.  Like Trump, Bernier is in favour of reducing immigration, preventing refugees from entering Canada illegally, promoting the construction of pipelines, denying the human contribution to climate change, pushing for a single national identity, moving away from promoting multiculturalism, eliminating foreign aid funding and repealing existing firearms laws. Fortunately, unlike Trump, Bernier has not to date raised issues about voter fraud or rigged elections.

What has really brought out the CPP supporters to the federal election are the restrictive measures taken by the federal and provincial governments to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.  Bernier has referred to COVID-19 public-health measures and vaccine policies as being “tyrannical”.  He has often told his supporters that: “People are fed up and they want to get back their freedom.”  This is a common theme, declaring that government public-health measures are an attack on one’s liberties, especially when it comes to lockdowns, mandated vaccinations and vaccine passports. 

What’s unfortunate about the participation of CPP supporters in the campaign is that their anger has gotten the better of their common sense and civility.  Supporters have been part of a number of often-violent demonstrations protesting the other parties’ leaders, especially at events being held by the current Liberal leader, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  The protesters have attempted to drown out the leaders at campaign stops and have revealed signs with vulgar and insulting slurs and graphics.  What’s regrettable is that Maxime Bernier refuses to condemn the incivility and lack of respect shown by CPP supporters against the opposing leaders, and in particular the PM.  In these difficult times, there is no doubt that there is a lot of pent-up anger among those whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively affected by the pandemic and some of the public-health measures that had to be implemented.  However, given the severity of the pandemic, Canadian support for such measures and the current growing fourth wave, it doesn’t appear that the CPP will gain very much additional support.

Unlike in the U.S. with its firmly established conservative base in several regions, there is little chance that Canada will see a similar ultra-right populist administration in power anytime soon.

Maxime Bernier himself does not like to be compared to Donald Trump for obvious reasons.  Unfortunately, his party has tended to politicize some of the more critical issues such as public-health measures aimed at preventing more COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths.  Unfortunately, the anti-vaxxers now have a political means to promote their virulent opposition to such measures.  By encouraging unfounded and unreasonable protests, Bernier does appear to have taken a page from Donald Trump’s agenda.

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Sep 13

One Cannot Deny Anyone’s Right to Die Because of COVID

by bcurry

A group calling itself by the misleading name ‘Canadian Frontline Nurses’ is planning cross-country protests in Canada rejecting vaccine passports and COVID-19 public health measures.  Among them are anti-vaxxers.  Interestingly, two of the group’s primary leaders travelled to Washington last January for a rally organized by ‘Global Frontline Nurses’, an organization that claims there is no evidence that social distancing is helpful in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and that “lockdowns do not work,” both positions widely disputed by public-health experts.  Unfortunately, the planned protests are expected to occur in the vicinity of hospitals where the real frontline medical staff is having to cope with increasing COVID-19 cases, particularly involving unvaccinated patients who make up the majority of such cases.

In light of the current fourth wave created by the Delta variant, the best way to prevent more COVID-related hospitalizations and potential deaths is through having more people vaccinated.  The cold hard statistical facts are that unvaccinated individuals are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized and 9 times more likely to die.

Now that we are hearing more about vaccine mandating and vaccine passports to enter non-essential venues, those that didn’t support public health restrictions such as lockdowns, masking and social distancing have resurfaced under new slogans.  “I’m not anti-anything. I’m pro-choice and pro-freedom.”  Reminds one of: “Give me liberty or give me death”.

Think about it.  Most American states and Canadian provinces already strictly mandate vaccines, which have not drawn opposition from most elected officials.  For example, they require children to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and other diseases to attend school. Even states like Mississippi and Alabama, which reacted angrily to the coronavirus vaccine mandates President Biden recently imposed on private businesses, go a step further than most states by barring parents from claiming “religious, philosophical or conscientious” exemptions for mandated child vaccinations.  In the past, even the U.S. Supreme Court has twice upheld vaccine mandates, reasoning that a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members.

Let’s face it.  I would hope that conservatives and so-called libertarians care about getting beyond this pandemic every bit as much as most of us do.  Unfortunately, there are politicians and groups who are more than happy to exploit this issue for political or ideological gain.  The anti-vaxxers, including some of those among the wellness influencers, have jumped on the libertarian bandwagon.  They continue to spread misinformation about the vaccines.  Sprinkled throughout social media, there are posts to their followers that continue to question the safety of the vaccines.  For example, one study found a large cluster of Facebook groups that focused on posting and spreading COVID-19 misinformation, including anti-vaccine messages.  This is despite the fact that Facebook enacted stricter rules against coronavirus misinformation over the course of the pandemic.

Vaccine mandates are not new, nor is resistance to vaccination.  Moreover, there is a clear and established principle behind mandated vaccinations.  It is that the safety of the community supersedes personal liberty when everyone is at risk from a communicable disease.  In our struggle to contain COVID-19, these remarkable vaccines are a critical tool that community members can employ along with other preventive measures.  Each one of us has a choice, especially those of us who are parents.  To put it bluntly, no one can deny you the right to choose how you die.  What’s crucial is whether your choices could lead to the death of someone in your family or in your community?

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Sep 10

U.S. President Finally Getting More Serious About Combating COVID-19

by bcurry

Let’s set the stage.  So far, the COVID pandemic has claimed more than 650,000 lives in the U.S.  The U.S. recorded 176,000 new cases on September 8, far above the roughly 10,000 a day seen in June when the pandemic was at its ebb.  A quarter of eligible Americans — some 80 million people — have so far not been vaccinated for the coronavirus.  Just as millions of American families navigate sending their children back to school, the number of children admitted to hospital with Covid-19 has risen to the highest levels reported to date.  States with the lowest vaccine coverage have child hospital admissions that are around four times higher than states with the highest vaccination rates.  According to the American Academy of Paediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, nearly 252,000 American children tested positive for COVID-19 last week, marking the single highest week on record for paediatric infections.  Nearly 30,000 of them entered hospitals in August alone.  Hospital resources and their staffs in several states are being strained under rising hospital admissions due to COVID.

Now, President Biden has declared that he will order all executive branch employees, federal contractors and millions of health-care workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, and that his administration would issue rules requiring large private employers to mandate shots or testing.  New federal safety regulations that call for businesses with more than 100 workers to require vaccinations against the coronavirus will affirm mandates already in place at many companies.  The requirements will be imposed by the Department of Labor and its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is drafting an emergency temporary standard to carry out the mandate.  Some 80 million American workers will be affected.  President Biden will also require vaccinations for more than 17 million health-care workers at Medicare and Medicaid participating hospitals and in other health-care settings, a significant expansion of an existing requirement aimed at nursing homes.

There is little doubt that the President’s order will face political pushback, particularly from some Republican state governors and legislatures, and will result in some litigation.  However, some of the largest employer organizations, such as the Business Roundtable, and largest unions, such as the Teamsters, the AFL-CIO, and the United Food and Commercial Workers, have endorsed the President’s move as the only possible way to achieve a full recovery.  They especially agree with the proposed requirement that companies offer paid time off for workers to get vaccinated.  However, concerns have been expressed over how to deal with unvaccinated workers, particularly those who are vaccine hesitant.  Of course, under the OSHA requirements, accommodation will also have to be made for those employees who can’t be vaccinated due to medical reasons.  Unions want to ensure that workplace COVID-19 health and safety plans include mitigation measures like ventilation, removing infected individuals, masking and training workers.

The U.S. cannot continue to take the fourth COVID wave involving the Delta variant lightly!  It is now affecting more children, particularly those under twelve who can’t get vaccinated at this time.  Unlike in some states, Canadian schools are requiring pre-screening protocols, rapid COVID testing, masking and other precautionary measures to minimize the impact of the variant on children.  As of the end of August, Canada reached a milestone with over 83.5 percent of the eligible population (12 yrs and up) receiving at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.  There is a fairly clear recognition that the more adults and parents who are vaccinated, the less likely children will become infected.  Many Canadian employers, notably in the health care and education sectors, have now mandated full vaccination of their employees, again as a health and safety measure.  In several provinces, vaccine passports are being introduced as proof of full vaccination in order to access non-essential establishments (restaurants, bars, sporting events, etc.).  Like the U.S., Canada has entered a fourth wave and the federal and provincial governments are doing everything in their power to limit its impact, both human and economic.  There is little doubt that President Biden is moving in the right direction given the nature of the COVID crisis.

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Sep 8

Continuing Issue of Substance Abuse and Overdoses in the Workplace

by bcurry

On August 31, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the U.S. joined workplaces, families, and communities impacted by drug overdose to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day.  The majority (over 70%) of drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2019 involved an opioid.  Interestingly, the issue of substance abuse in the workplace has been around for some time.  In December 2008, I actually posted a newsletter on my Web site at that time [Microsoft Word – Substance Abuse in the Workplace – Issue 1- 12 08 (healthyorganizations.yolasite.com)] concerning the impact of substance abuse in Canadian workplaces and the need for organizations to develop policies and programs to deal with this issue.  Sadly, as noted by NIOSH, overdose deaths American workplaces from the non-medical use of drugs or alcohol increased for the seventh year in a row in 2019.  In Canada, it has been estimated that anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of workers have experienced a period of substance abuse, with resulting overdoses a growing concern.

Since the early 2000s, governments and businesses have been increasingly recognizing the dire consequences of substance abuse on our health care systems and in our workplaces.  Substance abuse can include alcohol, prescription medication, controlled substances and illegal drugs.  However, unlike in the U.S., Canadian courts have ruled against arbitrary or random drug testing, particularly as part of pre-employment screening.  Moreover, the problem with drug testing alone is that it doesn’t measure impairment, and it doesn’t resolve the problem.  In order to promote a safe workplace, most employers tend to be generally concerned about impairment and whether or not somebody can perform on the job.  NIOSH stresses that employers can work to prevent occupational factors, like work-related motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and job stress, that can increase the chances a worker is prescribed medication.

We are hopefully in a better position today to deal with the opioid crisis in particular, recognizing the addictive dangers of using these pain medications.  International Overdose Awareness Day (https://www.overdoseday.com/) is one symbolic way in which to better inform the public of the fact that, while overdoses are preventable, they are becoming increasingly common in the workplace.  Anyone at a workplace is at risk of overdose if they use opioids.  Importantly, organizations such as NIOSH are providing more information on this topic (Opioids in the Workplace | NIOSH | CDC). 

If anything, the current COVID pandemic and its impact on workplaces, including several lockdowns in certain sectors over the past year and a half, has increased the use of substances, legal and illicit.  Most substance abuse today is perceived by society as a disability issue, similar to that occurring for any other disease, hopefully lessening the stigma.  Also, substance abuse is often associated with mental health issues, many of which have frequently surfaced as a consequence of the pandemic and its impact on people’s employment and families.  People need help more than ever, and not condemnation and societal censorship.

Other recommended Web sites on this subject are:

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Sep 6

Labour Day Means Different Things to the Employed and the Unemployed This Year

by bcurry

For many employed workers working from home, the expected return to the workplace has once again been delayed due to the current fourth wave of the pandemic thanks to the Delta variant of COVID-19.  For some working in workplaces, health and safety restrictions have been re-introduced to prevent outbreaks, including masking and physical distancing.  In addition, more and more businesses are requiring their employees to be vaccinated in order to enter workplaces.  In a recent Willis Towers Watson survey of nearly 1,000 American companies, which together employ almost 10 million people, 52 percent of respondents said they planned to have vaccine mandates by the end of the year, compared with 21 percent that said they already had vaccine requirements.  For those companies in which the employees have no union, the workers may not have any choice but to be vaccinated or loose their jobs.

For the unemployed, the end of government aid has arrived, especially in the U.S.  It is estimated that more than 7 million out-of-work people across the U.S. are set to lose all of their jobless benefits this week as three federal programs expire.  For Canadians, COVID-related unemployment benefits have been extended for now to November and special wage supports to October 2021.  With a current unemployment rate of nearly 8 percent, one has to ask what will happen to the thousands of unemployed Canadians in the near future?  Will current government financial aid programs continue to exist next year?

For those working on the front lines, including first responders and health care workers, the rise in COVID cases and increased hospitalization rates is again producing mental and physical strains on the workforce.  Many are experiencing varying degrees of burn-out and mental health issues, potentially leaving many to simply withdraw their services.  With the re-opening of their businesses, among the reasons that employers are currently having difficulties in finding workers is the fear of returning to the workplace because of the highly contagious Delta variant and lack of adequate health and safety measures.  In addition, many low-income parents are facing a lack of affordable, quality child care and inexpensive housing.  Some immunocompromised individuals are further worried about COVID exposure in workplaces with unvaccinated employees or clients, especially where masking is not mandated.  Furthermore, many employers do not provide health benefits, leaving employees to bear the costs associated with COVID-related hospitalization and medical treatment.

As for gig workers in the U.S., such as Uber and Lyft drivers, when the federal benefits expire, they most likely will be ineligible for state aid because gig workers do not traditionally qualify.  This situation applies to any individuals who are considered to be “independent contractors” in their respective jurisdictions.  This leaves them in a very precarious financial situation should they become ill and unable to work.

For many workers who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons and where the employer cannot accommodate them in terms of their usual work, the employment situation is precarious to say the least this Labour Day.  One has to feel a great deal of concern for both those employed and unemployed given the pandemic’s fourth wave.  Unfortunately, both lawmakers and employers assumed the pandemic wouldn’t last as long as it has.  Millions of workers have been caught in the obvious dilemma of having to put food on the table or having to ensure their occupational health and safety.  It appears that some businesses and governments have recognized this reality, while others appear to living on another planet.  In order for all of us to survive this pandemic and cope with its on-going consequences, it’s essential that we reflect on these critical issues today and after Labour Day.

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Sep 4

Removal by Canada of Former Afghan Interpreters Was Not an Easy Matter

by bcurry

Canada concluded combat operations in 2011 and left Afghanistan in 2014.  However, many Canadians believe that the Canadian government should help those Afghans who served with Canadian troops and officials, often as interpreters, during that period.  Even in the first years of Canada’s 2006-2011 combat mission in Kandahar province, there were numerous reports of the Taliban murdering interpreters.  For this reason, the Canadian government launched a program in 2009 to bring interpreters and their families to Canada.  About 800 interpreters immigrated here, but the program was often criticized for being too restrictive.  At that time, these Afghans and their families would have not been declared as “refugees”, but would have been brought into Canada under the Afghan special-immigration measure. 

Not applying refugee status at that time was for a number of reasons.  First, the Afghan government did not threaten them or persecute them.  The primary danger was from the Taliban insurgents, from whom the Afghan administration and security force were to provide security as the legitimate governing body.  Secondly, these Afghans would not have been recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees under the Refugee Convention.  Thirdly, refugees must be outside of their home countries, that is, they must enter another country before they can claim to be refugees.  Fourthly, to be classified as a refugee, a person must be persecuted because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion and membership in a particular social group as per the above convention.  War, violence and poverty are not enough to qualify for refugee status.  Thus, it was not until the Taliban had overthrown the previous Afghan government that one could even contemplate giving any Afghans such a status.  As Afghanistan teetered on the brink of collapse, Canada took almost two months for the new special immigration measure to be announced in late July.

However, no one, including the Americans, believed a few months and even weeks ago, that the Afghan security forces would have failed so quickly to repel the Taliban assault.  Once this became clear, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officials moved quickly to attempt to assist Canadian citizens and former Afghan interpreters and their families to fly out of Kabul.  Regrettably, we all saw the unbelievable chaos that ensued once the Taliban had taken possession of Kabul.  In the end, some estimate that only 18 percent of the 2,000 ex-employees and family members managed to get onto flights to Canada.  Unfortunately, there are still hundreds of similar Afghans wanting to flee to Canada who are currently stuck in the country and remain in danger.  Needless-to-say, Canadian vets of Afghanistan are not happy with the delays and the results.  One cannot really blame them, except to repeat that these former Afghan allies and friends could not have been processed any faster under the difficult circumstances existing in Taliban-controlled Kabul.

Some observers have argued that, instead of funnelling everyone to Kabul, IRCC officials should have encouraged them to head immediately to safety in neighbouring countries.  Of course, there are risks with doing so! They then would have to be declared convention refugees by the United Nations or other governments.  As refugees, these Afghans could then apply to come to Canada.  However, under the UN’s process, this would normally take years.  Can Canada speed up the process?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.  The fact is that, like the U.S. and other allies, the ability for Canada to accommodate the immigration of Afghan interpreters and their families was limited by the former Afghan government and the unusual difficulties in declaring them to be recognized as refugees under the existing international convention.  In order for Canada to live up to its humanitarian responsibilities, one can only hope that these Afghans can be helped in a timely way so as to eventually live in a country wishing to demonstrate its gratitude for their sacrifices.

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Sep 1

Failure of Colleges to Require Full COVID Vaccination Opens Up Door to Litigation

by bcurry

Four female soccer players at Western Michigan University are testing the bounds of religious freedom. They’re arguing that their school’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for student-athletes violates their Christian beliefs.  The problem is that, whereas Western Michigan requires athletes to be vaccinated, its campus-wide policy is not as strict.  The university strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty and staff and requires those who aren’t vaccinated to be tested regularly.  Today in both the U.S. and Canada, hundreds of universities and colleges are requiring that all students attending classes, living in residences and participating in campus activities must be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a medical exemption.  In a few cases, the unvaccinated may be required undergo regular COVID testing.  Given growing concerns about the higher infection rates with the Delta variant, school administrations are acting on the side of precaution in order to prevent or limit the foreseeable COVID outbreaks in their communities.  In addition, there may be accommodation opportunities for the unvaccinated to proceed with on-line learning options in some instances.

Suggesting that students should be exempted from vaccination policies due to religious beliefs really doesn’t pass the smell test.  An attorney for the above four soccer players actually cited a passage of the bible that states that human bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit”.  He further went on to claim that to allow the government to inject something into your body that you don’t necessarily agree with is the antithesis of that belief.  Sorry, but this doesn’t hold water.  Let’s face it, young Americans and Canadians are required to get vaccinated to protect them from a number of diseases, everything from polio to the measles.  In many cases, they cannot attend schools in their districts without proof of such vaccinations.  Furthermore, it is very likely that athletes at some time will have to take pain medication because of sports injuries, and in some cases even steroids to enhance performances — legal or otherwise. 

Where the above lawsuit may have some validity is in the fact that Western Michigan’s vaccine mandate only applies to student-athletes and not to the whole campus.  One could possibly argue that this represents a form of ‘discrimination”.  Their argument appears to question why there is a difference between those participating in a sport and those in a choir or labs or classes or dorms and on and on?  On the other hand, earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court in a precedent-setting case rejected a challenge to Indiana University’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate which covered all employees and students.  Failure to implement a consistent and clear vaccination policy across the board will most likely result in other litigation by anti-vaxxers.  It would appear to be in the best interests of universities and colleges to clearly do so, thereby removing any doubts and confusion about their policies. 

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