More clarification needed on vaccine
Since one of the ways to combat COVID-19 is to achieve herd immunity by vaccinating 80 per cent of the population, I wonder how seniors refusing the vaccine is going to impact this goal.
According to the latest census, there are 5.9 million seniors in Canada and 551,280 in B.C.
If a significant number of seniors refuse the vaccine they are not only putting themselves at risk, but also the health-care and hospital staff who will be required to treat them if they become ill from the many illnesses common to the elderly.
Because those who receive the vaccine will receive a COVID-19 card, I believe there are other concerns for those who refuse the vaccine. They need to know if the card will be used for purposes other than tracking.
Will it be required before one can travel, before one can be admitted to hospital or even before one can have contact with friends and family?
I know that those grandparents who want to give up their vaccine are more worried about the future of their children and grandchildren than themselves.
I am hoping the experts can weigh in with more clarification of these issues so that informed decisions around receiving or refusing the vaccine can be made by us all.
Dorothy Mullen
Victoria
Enforcement must be consistent
When people are being threatened with fines for breaking the COVID-19 restrictions, clarity and consistency become more important than ever, especially when there seems to be considerable room for interpretation.
For example, while golfers play together for hours in small maskless groups, are small family outdoor gatherings a punishable offence?
Likewise, while diners eat in small groups inside restaurants, would they be fined if the same group met in someone’s house?
And if only essential travel is allowed, will people be fined as they board the ferry if they can’t prove that their trip is required?
I believe that on the Island at least, most people have demonstrated respect for the intent of the restrictions while exercising some personal discretion in scaling back family activities.
If that has changed, Premier John Horgan needs to clarify who exactly is being targeted with the threat of punishment and then enforcement needs to be consistent.
Elizabeth Causton
Victoria
Clarity needed on pandemic rules
Premier John Horgan has announced stricter enforcement over the next few weeks.
He has stated that hosting or visiting people from different households is prohibited with a few exceptions. Will he state what these few exceptions are, or will he continue to be a typical politician and commit to nothing?
My wife and I are both 75 years old, and assume we cannot go to our daughter’s home for Christmas dinner without facing the possibility of a huge fine.
I also read that B.C. Ferries are putting on extra sailings over the holiday period. Where are all these travellers staying other than with family or friends outside their own household?
Is this going to be enforced?
This government has to be more precise with their regulations instead a bunch of if’s and maybe’s.
Be clear about what is allowed and what is not.
F.W. Mason
Comox
Punished because others reckless
As a young industrial manager, one of the first lessons I learned was not to punish the innocent for the sins of the guilty.
Apparently it is not something the NDP government has learned.
My wife and I have been diligent in our COVID-19 protocols since last March, as have many of our friends.
Now we are forbidden to even have one couple over socially at Christmas. We are being punished because of the irresponsibility of others who insisted on having large gatherings.
It is too much. We should be able to have one or two careful couples in our social life. It is not as if the Island is in crisis.
Bill Gibson
Victoria
Put Cook St. idea to another vote
Given that there is now a new councillor on the board, would it be possible to have another vote on the Aragon Cook Street proposal in order to break the tie vote?
It seems to me to be a solid and highly attractive proposal, with a generous contribution to the affordable housing fund and a welcome community centre partnership proposal.
It is also a thing of beauty, and the developers have worked through the expectations and requirements of the city council for many years.
If Stephen Andrew were to support the rejection, it would be a final say.
If he were to support the development, there would be a collective sigh of relief amongst, I suspect, the majority of Victoria residents.
Jan Jeffers
Victoria
Injured dentist a pandemic hero
Re: “Cyclist severely injured after being hit in Galloping Goose trail crossing,” Dec 15.
It is terrible to think that cyclists take such chances every day they leave their homes for their daily commute. Going to work becomes a hazardous adventure.
This dentist particularly had a very important role to play during the pandemic. When most dentists’ offices were closed to their patients in the early months of shutdowns, she could stay open to fill that gap as she was already equipped with all the necessary PPE equipment to help people with serious dental emergencies, I being one.
She was there for me after a fall, and a lot of other people too. It should be mentioned that she was part of essential health care teams that looked after emergency patients through all the shut downs of last spring.
Her broken bones and injuries are an unfortunate testament to her dedication to her work.
We should be so grateful for all of the health care teams everywhere for being there for us when we need them and risk facing a perilous deadly virus themselves for us.
Again, thank you!
E.C. Jewsbury
Saanich
Loss of affordable housing a problem
Re: “In Langford, residents of manufactured-home park live in limbo as sale looms,” Dec. 13.
So here we go again, another council and mayor rezoning land that has low-cost and affordable accommodation on it.
We constantly hear our elected officials talk about the need for more of this form of accommodation, but do they walk the talk?
This isn’t new, but continues on a steady basis. How many trailer parks have been rezoned and just disappear?
This is just one more of the reasons for homeless people.
Frank Thompson
Sidney
Vera Lynn’s songs could give us hope
I was reminiscing and hearing Vera Lynn singing, in my mind, when it suddenly occurred to me that those songs would fit in very well now.
I know they were Second World War era, but what better time than the war against COVID-19 to hear them again and give us hope.
Maureen Dineen
Langford
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