The COVID-19 pandemic

[jeffster]

Not a lawyer here, but at plain language “unable” is very different from “unwilling”. “Unable” means medical counterindication, period, or unable to get to a vaccination location (which shouldn’t be an issue in this country). It’s also reasonable, in principle, to grant cultural objections (to a specific vaccine, not to vaccination in general), but I don’t think there are any (anybody know of a counter example?).

“Unwilling” means the mandate isn’t a mandate, the thing that is supposedly “required” isn’t, etc.

Exactly. From that original DND page that jeffster linked to:

What will be the career ramifications for any CAF member who refuses the COVID-19 vaccine?
In light of the announcement made Friday, August 13, 2021, the Government of Canada intends to require COVID-19 vaccinations for federal public service employees and Canadian Armed Forces members. As further details unfold, they will be communicated to all Defence Team members.

I'd say it's pretty clear that you do not get an option to refuse, with no consequences.

But you left out the second sentence: “For those few who are unable to be vaccinated, accommodation or alternative measures may be determined in each situation, to protect broader public health by reducing the risk of COVID-19.”

Mandatory but not mandatory. I am not sure of what valid reasons for being unable. Might be health. Unlikely it’s religious. Some might view this as a charter violation. And being that the current crop of vaccines aren’t all that effective at preventing getting covid, preventing illness, and just ‘good’ at preventing hospitalizations, you will likely have a large number of people claiming that the vaccine isn’t effective enough when measured against any risk, especially for the younger crowd.

Here’s an example: Ranitidine, also known as Zantac, was a heartburn medication discovered in 1976, approved for use in 1981, then pulled from shelves 39 years later, because it is carcinogenic. 39 years is a long time before a drug is pulled, but here we are.

Again, while I am not anti-vax, I do understand how some would be hesitant to take a relatively new style of vaccine (mRNA). And it is true we don’t know the long term effects of these types of vaccines, especially on the young (hence why it’s still not approve for 6m to 11yrs).

Now, if this vaccine was 90%+ effective we could achieve herd immunity, and it wasn’t long ago that this is what PHAC, governments and other agencies were claiming. Now we know this isn’t true. Were we lied to? I don’t know. I will say that I am disappointed with the ever changing goalposts of the PHAC, etc. But the fact that we might need boosters now, and even at that, we could still get sick and die? I am starting to understand why some won’t get vaccinated.

Even now, fully vaccinated people can get each other sick. That’s not what anyone signed up for when we got our first shot.