Alberta’s vaccine passport is too little too late: Edmonton-based restaurant owner
Dominik Diamond
DominikDiamond
Today is #CanadaElection2021. As someone who has lived through a provincial Conservative government creating a total crash of the health system in Alberta during covid mismanagement? Not trying to steer your vote but if you give it to Conservatives you are an utter tool.
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Charles Adler
charlesadler
"Alberta exploring whether COVID-19 infection could offer exemption to proof of vaccination, #Kenney says" This isn't just caving to Vaccine Resistors, in yet one more attempt to throw the base a bone. Like everything he does or doesn't do on the Pandemic, it impacts on #OToole
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Wide range of 'essential services' won't be eligible for Alberta proof-of-vaccination program
Sun., September 19, 2021
A printed copy of an individual's Alberta COVID-19 immunization record.
Sun., September 19, 2021
A printed copy of an individual's Alberta COVID-19 immunization record.
(Sarah Rieger/CBC - image credit)
Alberta's government has clarified what businesses it considers essential services, and will therefore not be exempt from restrictions if they choose to opt in to the proof-of-vaccination program on Monday.
Starting Monday, non-essential businesses and services can choose to require proof of vaccination for customers. Those who opt out have to adhere to capacity and operating restrictions.
The list of eligible businesses, which includes restaurants, clubs, casinos and movie theatres, was originally set to include retail.
But over the weekend, Alberta Health said that retail stores would no longer be eligible to participate — meaning even if they implement proof-of-vaccination, they'll still be subject to capacity limits.
Businesses not eligible to participate in the restrictions exemption program now include:
Private events.
Retail and shopping malls.
Food courts.
Health, personal and wellness services.
Libraries.
Workers at a worksite for the purpose of their employment.
K-12 schools, publicly funded post-secondary institutions and First Nation colleges. Post-secondaries will fall under a separate, sector-specific exemption.
Places of worship.
Hotels.
Masks will be required in all indoor public spaces, regardless of whether they are participating in the program.
Details on how the restriction exemption program will work are available on the government's website.
Business owner taken by surprise
Kyle Bordage, owner of Imaginary Wars Gaming and Hobbies, said on Sunday he was surprised to hear the restriction exemption program had changed to no longer include retail.
"We had thought now that things were opening up we could have some small group activities in here, now that's not the case. It was a punch to the gut because I thought I was on top of all of this," he said.
His store has carefully restricted capacity but he had hoped to safely hold some tabletop gaming events once restrictions allowed.
"There's this real camaraderie that brings people together," he said. "With everyone double-vaccinated, everyone in the store wearing masks, it looked like for once the people who had been very, very careful were able to exercise the rights that come with being very, very careful. But now it looks like not at all, everyone gets punished."
The Alberta government launched its vaccine record website on Sunday, which allows people to save or print their COVID-19 immunization status by entering their health-care number, date of vaccination, and date of birth.
However, the medium in which the vaccine records were made available — an insecure PDF rather than a QR code or app — has been subject to criticism.
Alberta's government has clarified what businesses it considers essential services, and will therefore not be exempt from restrictions if they choose to opt in to the proof-of-vaccination program on Monday.
Starting Monday, non-essential businesses and services can choose to require proof of vaccination for customers. Those who opt out have to adhere to capacity and operating restrictions.
The list of eligible businesses, which includes restaurants, clubs, casinos and movie theatres, was originally set to include retail.
But over the weekend, Alberta Health said that retail stores would no longer be eligible to participate — meaning even if they implement proof-of-vaccination, they'll still be subject to capacity limits.
Businesses not eligible to participate in the restrictions exemption program now include:
Private events.
Retail and shopping malls.
Food courts.
Health, personal and wellness services.
Libraries.
Workers at a worksite for the purpose of their employment.
K-12 schools, publicly funded post-secondary institutions and First Nation colleges. Post-secondaries will fall under a separate, sector-specific exemption.
Places of worship.
Hotels.
Masks will be required in all indoor public spaces, regardless of whether they are participating in the program.
Details on how the restriction exemption program will work are available on the government's website.
Business owner taken by surprise
Kyle Bordage, owner of Imaginary Wars Gaming and Hobbies, said on Sunday he was surprised to hear the restriction exemption program had changed to no longer include retail.
"We had thought now that things were opening up we could have some small group activities in here, now that's not the case. It was a punch to the gut because I thought I was on top of all of this," he said.
His store has carefully restricted capacity but he had hoped to safely hold some tabletop gaming events once restrictions allowed.
"There's this real camaraderie that brings people together," he said. "With everyone double-vaccinated, everyone in the store wearing masks, it looked like for once the people who had been very, very careful were able to exercise the rights that come with being very, very careful. But now it looks like not at all, everyone gets punished."
The Alberta government launched its vaccine record website on Sunday, which allows people to save or print their COVID-19 immunization status by entering their health-care number, date of vaccination, and date of birth.
However, the medium in which the vaccine records were made available — an insecure PDF rather than a QR code or app — has been subject to criticism.
Adam Lachacz
CTVNewsEdmonton.ca Digital Producer
Published Sept. 19, 2021 12:55 p.m. MDT
EDMONTON -
As COVID-19 cases in Alberta surge and health-care leaders call for military aid to help beleaguered hospital staff, some are worried the latest public health measures may not help curb the fourth wave.
On Friday, Alberta reported more than 2,000 daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since May. While the next data update is expected Monday, the province has 19,201 active cases and 911 hospitalizations – including 215 ICU admissions.
The province released triage protocols to guide workers on how life-and-death decisions should be made if the province’s healthcare system is overwhelmed, and field hospitals were prepared in Calgary and Edmonton.
A Flourish chartOther provinces pledged support to help Alberta deal with the fourth wave of the pandemic, including offers of pharmaceutical aid from Manitoba and the ability to send patients for care to Ontario.
A Flourish data visualizationTime for military support in 'overwhelmed' hospitals: Alberta health-care union leaders
Ontario confirms the province will help Alberta with overwhelmed ICUs
Triage protocols made public by Alberta Health Services
Don Iveson, Edmonton’s mayor, told CTV News that the province should have taken the word of public health experts who were sounding alarm over the open for summer plan back in June.
“What we were promised in Alberta with open for summer,” Iveson said, “was a false promise because not enough people were vaccinated and our doctors and epidemiologists here in Edmonton were saying that at the time.
“We should have listened to them, or our decision-maker should have listened to them,” Iveson added.
That is why the City of Edmonton erred on the side of caution when it came to measures like mask mandates, Iveson said.
“Edmonton City Council takes very seriously what our healthcare leaders in the city say,” he said. “Notwithstanding the signals that everything’s fine coming out of the legislature, which were wrong.”
Iveson shared that he has heard large amounts of frustration from Albertans reacting to the newest public health measures.
“I’ve never seen Albertans this mad across the political spectrum about the situation we find ourselves in,” he said. “People are furious.
“Just call it a vaccine passport if you’re going to reverse course,” Iveson added. “Make it straightforward rather than a proof of vaccination restriction exemption program, which is an un-passport, which downloads the onus onto small businesses and municipalities like mine to have to make venue by venue decisions about whether we’re going to opt into this and that."
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The mayor said he and other colleagues in municipal governance are concerned that the program could create potential for inconsistencies across the province.
“That lack of clarity,” he said,” leads to potential for misinterpretation and potential for conflict on a store-by-storefront basis.”
Retailers cut out of Alberta's vaccine program just days before changes take hold
Olds, Alta. restaurant backs down, removes anti-restrictions sign
Dr. Joe Vipond, a Calgary emergency room doctor and outspoken activist about the need for COVID-19 restrictions, told CTV News that the measures introduced last week by the premier “will not be enough.”
“I can tell you that the measures that were introduced on Wednesday, in my mind, won’t be enough to curb the exponential growth of cases,” Vipond said.
“And as such, we should be continuing to see growth of hospitalizations and ICU (admissions),” Vipond added. “If that’s the case, if we continue to have not just tens of people needing ICUs that we don’t have room for but dozens or hundreds, I don’t know what we can except maybe implement these (triage) protocols and that is deeply concerning.”
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Diego Romero
A person wearing a protective face mask walks past a mural during the COVID-19 Pandemic, in Edmonton Alta, on Wednesday April 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
By Rob Drinkwater The Canadian Press
Posted September 19, 2021
On Monday, new public health restrictions come into effect in Alberta. The province provided a way to show proof you've been vaccinated against COVID-19 on Sunday and says nearly 1,500 cards were generated every minute. While downloading it was easy for some, others have run into roadblocks. Nicole Stillger explains.
Posted September 19, 2021
On Monday, new public health restrictions come into effect in Alberta. The province provided a way to show proof you've been vaccinated against COVID-19 on Sunday and says nearly 1,500 cards were generated every minute. While downloading it was easy for some, others have run into roadblocks. Nicole Stillger explains.
Albertans needing proof they’re vaccinated against COVID-19 were able to download cards from the province’s website on Sunday, but almost right away some residents said they were easily able to edit them.
Dan Shugar, who lives in Calgary, says the card was in a PDF file which he was able to edit to say his name was “Fakus McFakeFace” and that he’d received doses of “Ivermectin Horsey Paste” and “Bleach.”
He says all of the fields could be edited and making changes was “mindbogglingly easy.”
ACTUALLY IT IS NOT MINDBOGGLING EASY IT TAKES KNOWLEDGE AND TIME TO TRANSFER DATA FROM A PDF WHICH IS NEVER EASY
The government announced the availability of the cards in a news release on Sunday, a day before its “restrictions exemption program” launches.
The government announced the availability of the cards in a news release on Sunday, a day before its “restrictions exemption program” launches.
View image in full screen
The program allows businesses and venues to operate without capacity limits and other public health measures if they require proof of vaccination or a negative test result from anyone entering.
Health ministry spokeswoman Amanda Krumins acknowledges in an email that “a motivated individual” can edit the PDF, but that “work continues on a more secure QR code that will be available in the coming weeks.”
“It’s important to point out that falsifying a health record is an offense under (the) Health Information Act,” Krumins wrote.
“That said, we know the vast majority of Albertans will use the system properly and adhere to the legal requirements set out in the current public health orders.”
The program allows businesses and venues to operate without capacity limits and other public health measures if they require proof of vaccination or a negative test result from anyone entering.
Health ministry spokeswoman Amanda Krumins acknowledges in an email that “a motivated individual” can edit the PDF, but that “work continues on a more secure QR code that will be available in the coming weeks.”
“It’s important to point out that falsifying a health record is an offense under (the) Health Information Act,” Krumins wrote.
“That said, we know the vast majority of Albertans will use the system properly and adhere to the legal requirements set out in the current public health orders.”
READ MORE: Alberta sees spike in COVID-19 vaccinations, 2,020 new cases confirmed Friday
Premier Jason Kenney had opposed a vaccine passport over what he said were privacy concerns, but said last week it has become a necessary measure to protect Alberta’s hospitals that face the prospect of being overwhelmed in the pandemic’s fourth wave.
Kenney said in a Facebook live video on Thursday night that since he announced the passport system, COVID-19 vaccine bookings have nearly tripled in the province.
More people rolling up their sleeves after Alberta announces COVID-19 vaccine passport program
Many people, however, reported difficulty in obtaining the required proof they’d been vaccinated in the days that followed the announcement.
Prior to the cards becoming available on Sunday, Albertans had the option of either showing sheets of paper they’d received when they got their shots, or signing up for a system that would allow them to view their vaccine records online.
READ MORE: Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccine passport, new restrictions: How things are going to change
The latter option required many people to sign up for a digital ID, and people who tried said they faced long, frustrating delays due to the system being overwhelmed.
The province says the new cards can be downloaded with an Alberta Health number, without the need for creating an online account and with minimal or no wait time.
It says Albertans will still be able to use their existing immunization records, including those received at their vaccination.
Alberta exploring whether COVID-19 infection could offer exemption to proof of vaccination, Kenney says
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he has asked health officials to find out whether evidence of naturally acquired COVID-19 antibodies can be used in lieu of proof-of-vaccine under the province’s new passport system can go.
Mr Kenny answered questions from the public on Facebook last week after announcing a vaccine passport system for non-essential businesses. Several viewers asked whether people who have previously had COVID-19, and therefore have some degree of natural protection against reinfection, still needed to be immunized to access services.
“We are looking into it,” he said, adding that Israel and Denmark allow people who can prove they can recover from COVID-19 to use services whose Requires proof-of-vaccination or a recent negative test. “I’ve said that we look at it more closely to see if we can replicate that as a feature of our program here.”
However, a possible exception is not coming soon. Mr Kenny said Alberta could not wait weeks to develop a system that would account for evidence of antibodies, especially given the current crisis in the health care system and the weakening impact of naturally acquired protections.
“The highest level of protection you can have is to have some antibodies through prior infection and to be vaccinated. That’s how you get COVID superpowers,” he said. “If you’re cured, yes, you have There is a good level of protection, but you can improve that by getting vaccinated.”
Alberta’s intensive care units are overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients and the province declared a health emergency last week. On Thursday, Alberta postponed all non-emergency surgeries to free up equipment, space and staff for temporary ICU beds.
Stephanie Smith, an infectious-disease doctor, said that while people recovering from COVID-19 have antibodies, it is not clear how long their immunity against the coronavirus lasts. In Denmark’s passport system, proof of a positive PCR test taken in the past 12 months is acceptable. In Israel, people who have recovered from COVID-19 have passport privileges until the end of 2021. However, effective October 1, passport privileges for recovered persons will expire six months after that person receives the recovery certificate.
Serology tests can be used to check for antibodies, but this will take time and money. And even if someone has claimed COVID-19 antibodies, that doesn’t mean they’re safe, Dr. Smith said.
“It’s not a perfect correlation,” she said.
He added that adding another element to Alberta’s passport system, which the government calls a “restriction waiver program,” would further complicate an already confusing policy.
Amita Singh, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of Alberta, said people who have contracted COVID-19 should still be vaccinated, accepting documentation of antibodies to the passport program within a certain period of time “reasonable”. ” Will happen. , instead of vaccination records.
Alberta Health “strongly” recommends getting vaccinated people already infected with COVID-19, according to spokesman Tom McMillan. The government is yet to decide whether it will broaden its passport system to include floating antibodies in those who have recovered from the disease.
“Evidence is still emerging about the extent and duration of immunity from prior COVID-19 infection,” he said.
Starting Monday, non-essential businesses in Alberta will face public-health restrictions, such as restaurants closing their indoor dining rooms, until they implement the vaccine passport system. To access the services, Albertans must provide proof that they have been vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours. It does not apply to children under the age of 12, who are not eligible for the shot, and those with medical exemptions.
Ilan Schwartz, an infectious-disease physician at the University of Alberta, called the restrictions confusing, complicated and “eventually compromised because the premier explicitly panders to those who vehemently oppose vaccination.”
“There are a lot of loopholes and exceptions and exemptions, and [the Premier] It has worked so hard, in fact, to please this beleaguered group of voters, that it has created a misleading and, in all likelihood, ineffective intervention,” Dr Schwartz said.
He said it was too late for even broader restrictions to turn things around effectively.
“These were needed four weeks ago to survive the disaster,” he said. “While I can certainly find fault with the way it has been specifically formulated and announced, I think that, more importantly, there is much to be done to save the collapse of our critical care capacity in the province. it’s late.”
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he has asked health officials to find out whether evidence of naturally acquired COVID-19 antibodies can be used in lieu of proof-of-vaccine under the province’s new passport system can go.
Mr Kenny answered questions from the public on Facebook last week after announcing a vaccine passport system for non-essential businesses. Several viewers asked whether people who have previously had COVID-19, and therefore have some degree of natural protection against reinfection, still needed to be immunized to access services.
“We are looking into it,” he said, adding that Israel and Denmark allow people who can prove they can recover from COVID-19 to use services whose Requires proof-of-vaccination or a recent negative test. “I’ve said that we look at it more closely to see if we can replicate that as a feature of our program here.”
However, a possible exception is not coming soon. Mr Kenny said Alberta could not wait weeks to develop a system that would account for evidence of antibodies, especially given the current crisis in the health care system and the weakening impact of naturally acquired protections.
“The highest level of protection you can have is to have some antibodies through prior infection and to be vaccinated. That’s how you get COVID superpowers,” he said. “If you’re cured, yes, you have There is a good level of protection, but you can improve that by getting vaccinated.”
Alberta’s intensive care units are overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients and the province declared a health emergency last week. On Thursday, Alberta postponed all non-emergency surgeries to free up equipment, space and staff for temporary ICU beds.
Stephanie Smith, an infectious-disease doctor, said that while people recovering from COVID-19 have antibodies, it is not clear how long their immunity against the coronavirus lasts. In Denmark’s passport system, proof of a positive PCR test taken in the past 12 months is acceptable. In Israel, people who have recovered from COVID-19 have passport privileges until the end of 2021. However, effective October 1, passport privileges for recovered persons will expire six months after that person receives the recovery certificate.
Serology tests can be used to check for antibodies, but this will take time and money. And even if someone has claimed COVID-19 antibodies, that doesn’t mean they’re safe, Dr. Smith said.
“It’s not a perfect correlation,” she said.
He added that adding another element to Alberta’s passport system, which the government calls a “restriction waiver program,” would further complicate an already confusing policy.
Amita Singh, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of Alberta, said people who have contracted COVID-19 should still be vaccinated, accepting documentation of antibodies to the passport program within a certain period of time “reasonable”. ” Will happen. , instead of vaccination records.
Alberta Health “strongly” recommends getting vaccinated people already infected with COVID-19, according to spokesman Tom McMillan. The government is yet to decide whether it will broaden its passport system to include floating antibodies in those who have recovered from the disease.
“Evidence is still emerging about the extent and duration of immunity from prior COVID-19 infection,” he said.
Starting Monday, non-essential businesses in Alberta will face public-health restrictions, such as restaurants closing their indoor dining rooms, until they implement the vaccine passport system. To access the services, Albertans must provide proof that they have been vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours. It does not apply to children under the age of 12, who are not eligible for the shot, and those with medical exemptions.
Ilan Schwartz, an infectious-disease physician at the University of Alberta, called the restrictions confusing, complicated and “eventually compromised because the premier explicitly panders to those who vehemently oppose vaccination.”
“There are a lot of loopholes and exceptions and exemptions, and [the Premier] It has worked so hard, in fact, to please this beleaguered group of voters, that it has created a misleading and, in all likelihood, ineffective intervention,” Dr Schwartz said.
He said it was too late for even broader restrictions to turn things around effectively.
“These were needed four weeks ago to survive the disaster,” he said. “While I can certainly find fault with the way it has been specifically formulated and announced, I think that, more importantly, there is much to be done to save the collapse of our critical care capacity in the province. it’s late.”
DO YOU THINK THIS MAY BE WHY KENNEY RAISED THE ISSUE
Country star Brandt stirs up COVID controversy
The comments from Brandt, who used to work as a nurse in Calgary, drew a storm of social media condemnation.
on September 19, 2021
By Dave Naylor
Alberta country star Paul Brandt has strummed up a COVID-19 controversy by saying a doctor has told him he doesn’t need to be vaccinated because he has already recovered from catching the virus.
“An Alberta doctor told me there is no medical need for me to be vaccinated as a COVID-recovered person,” Brandt tweeted on Saturday.
“I’m not an anti-vaxxer. Does anyone else who has immunity from prior COVID infection feel unseen? I have questions. Join the conversation on Facebook. https://bit.ly/3tNLTBv.”
Country star Brandt stirs up COVID controversy
The comments from Brandt, who used to work as a nurse in Calgary, drew a storm of social media condemnation.
on September 19, 2021
By Dave Naylor
Alberta country star Paul Brandt has strummed up a COVID-19 controversy by saying a doctor has told him he doesn’t need to be vaccinated because he has already recovered from catching the virus.
“An Alberta doctor told me there is no medical need for me to be vaccinated as a COVID-recovered person,” Brandt tweeted on Saturday.
“I’m not an anti-vaxxer. Does anyone else who has immunity from prior COVID infection feel unseen? I have questions. Join the conversation on Facebook. https://bit.ly/3tNLTBv.”
BRANDT TWEET
“I want to be clear, I am not against vaccines. To be sure, COVID-19 vaccines work well to provide good protection against severe outcome from COVID-19 for individuals and society. It is a good and responsible measure to strongly consider getting vaccinated both for yourself, and for the rest of the community and country,” he wrote.
“What is troubling me is this – Why aren’t people who have had COVID and recovered being included in the conversation? Why are we not being recognized as people who have adequate immunity. Why are people who don’t need to be vaccinated being pressured to vaccinate in Canada?”
The comments from Brandt, who used to work as a nurse in Calgary, drew a storm of social media condemnation.
“If you are choosing to not get vaccinated with mRNA covid vaccines, you are, in fact, an antivaxxer. Get vaccinated. For everyone,” said Neil Zeller.
“Hey Paul…that was an option a while back and understandably some still believe it. But times have changed because the virus has changed. Getting #vaccinated is the only way to have the immunity needed to stay safe. I would be happy to explain further if you’d like,” said Jason Tetro.
Brandy clarified his comment later in the day.
“As I stated in yesterday’s FB post, It is good and responsible measure to strongly consider getting vaccinated, both for yourself, and for the rest of the community and country,” he tweeted.
“I’d like to thank all of the health professionals who reached out and confirmed that this conversation about Immunity is one that needed to be had urgently.”
Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard
“I want to be clear, I am not against vaccines. To be sure, COVID-19 vaccines work well to provide good protection against severe outcome from COVID-19 for individuals and society. It is a good and responsible measure to strongly consider getting vaccinated both for yourself, and for the rest of the community and country,” he wrote.
“What is troubling me is this – Why aren’t people who have had COVID and recovered being included in the conversation? Why are we not being recognized as people who have adequate immunity. Why are people who don’t need to be vaccinated being pressured to vaccinate in Canada?”
The comments from Brandt, who used to work as a nurse in Calgary, drew a storm of social media condemnation.
“If you are choosing to not get vaccinated with mRNA covid vaccines, you are, in fact, an antivaxxer. Get vaccinated. For everyone,” said Neil Zeller.
“Hey Paul…that was an option a while back and understandably some still believe it. But times have changed because the virus has changed. Getting #vaccinated is the only way to have the immunity needed to stay safe. I would be happy to explain further if you’d like,” said Jason Tetro.
Brandy clarified his comment later in the day.
“As I stated in yesterday’s FB post, It is good and responsible measure to strongly consider getting vaccinated, both for yourself, and for the rest of the community and country,” he tweeted.
“I’d like to thank all of the health professionals who reached out and confirmed that this conversation about Immunity is one that needed to be had urgently.”
Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard
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