Editor:

My loved ones and I are all double vaccinated. I dropped by the anti-vaccination rally in front of CNC last Wednesday. In a scene reminiscent of Mel Gibson in Braveheart, adults and small children side by side were shouting 鈥榝reedom鈥�. Everyone values his or her freedom. I鈥檓 free to have some cold beers in my home, I鈥檓 not free to then hop in my vehicle because I鈥檒l endanger others. In the same way everyone is free to be unvaccinated but if you then go out in public, perhaps mask-less and shouting at a rally, you鈥檙e endangering others. Public safety overrides our personal freedom, the same way it overrules our freedom to go 180 km/h on the highway.

I spoke with some of the group and said, 鈥淵ou know that the only people still getting seriously ill and dying of Covid-19 are the unvaccinated, right?鈥滻 was told 鈥渢hat鈥檚 if you believe the Six O鈥機lock news鈥�. Yes, the news has a fair amount of hype, but I trust the epidemiologists and weary ICU doctors appearing on TV or writing in the science journals I subscribe to. I don鈥檛 trust random people on social media linking to random fear mongers, some hawking quack Covid-19 remedies like horse de-wormer.

I was told if we allow the government to force vaccines on us they鈥檒l just move on to the next thing in a creeping tyranny. I myself disagree with a number of things governments do, at election time I vote for the least disagreeable. I didn鈥檛 get vaccinated because the government told me to. I鈥檓 vaccinated because the science overwhelmingly told me its very safe and effective. I have a Sciences degree, studied cell biology and biochemistry and understand the function of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). The science behind the rapid development of Covid-19 vaccines is complex and amazing.

I鈥檓 so tired of having to wear a mask all day at work, not socializing or travelling and all the other precautions we have to endure. We could all be free!! of most of that tomorrow if everyone was vaccinated. Sorry anti-vaxxers, you might not wear a mask but you have to wear that one. I have one request of you. Please don鈥檛 harass the proprietors and staff our local businesses when they follow the law and the science and ask to see your vaccine passport.

Shouting 鈥榝reedom鈥� didn鈥檛 end well for Mel in the movie. I fear it won鈥檛 end well for many of our unvaccinated.

Walt Vanderkamp