Oxford medical leaders send open letter to community urging vaccines
Oxford County’s top doctors and medical professionals have written an open letter to the community urging people who haven’t already, to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The letter is endorsed by Dr. Joyce Lock, the medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, along with 23 other physicians and health care professionals, including the CEOs of Woodstock, Ingersoll and Tillsonburg hospitals and their chiefs of staff.
Those who have also attached their names include clinic supervisors, nurse practitioners, mental health professionals and social housing executives.
The letter states that while residents have looked to their leadership for evidence-based information, they have turned to science to guide their recommendations for preventing COVID-19.
“Unfailingly, that research leads us to vaccination,” says the letter. It goes on to say that, “to date, there is nothing peer reviewed in a reputable journal that speaks against vaccination. The vaccines approved for use in Canada are overwhelmingly safe and effective. They protect the person who is vaccinated, but high numbers of vaccinated also protect those who haven’t had the vaccine due to their age or an allergy.”
The letter acknowledges that many are feeling “increasingly frustrated” that 18 months into the pandemic life is still not back to the way it was before COVID.
“Our message remains unchanged: get vaccinated if you have not yet done so, and continue to avoid enclosed spaces, crowded places, and close contact with others as much as possible. This is the best course of action to keep our schools, businesses, recreation facilities and places of worship open.”
The letter says it’s time to approach “frazzled front-line service workers with extra kindness,” and to reach out to those who are struggling.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.