Northern B.C. MLA says vaccine misinformation fuelled by Alberta

DAWSON CREEK (NEWS 1130) — Health authorities in northern B.C. are dealing with a lot of pushback when it comes to vaccination rollouts, and one MLA is putting the blame on B.C.’s neighbour to the east.

Mike Bernier, the Liberal MLA for Peace River South, says there is a lot of misinformation circulating the region, and it is only fuelled by Albertans.

“A good portion of people in the Dawson Creek, Pouce Coupe, Fort St. John area, are very closely related whether it be for personal reasons or through work with Alberta. We have seen the problems in Alberta with the solid message of trying to get people vaccinated…and the crisis they’re in,” Bernier said.

Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, and Chetwynd are all in northeastern B.C., and therefore have close ties to Alberta, which is not far away.

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Bernier says some have gone further than just sharing conspiracies, but are taking to social media to threaten those who support science.

Bernier says he has received threats but is not going to stop supporting the COVID-19 measures.

He’s not the only one who has been targeted by members of their own community on social media. MLA Dan Davies, who represents the Peace River North region, was outraged when an anti-vaccine letter purporting to be from his office, was circulated through his community two weeks ago.

Dawson Creek Mayor Dale Bumstead says he will no longer allow impromptu speakers at city council after anti-vaccine protesters hijacked a meeting in September to share misinformation.

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Premier John Horgan commended Bernier, Davies, and Bumstead on Thursday.

“[They] have taken courageous and appropriate stands on these issues in the interest of protecting their communities,” Horgan said.

“They have all done extraordinary work against the wishes of some of their constituents and supporters and I commend them for that leadership. They are going out of their way to protect people, and that’s the way it should be,” Horgan added.

The unvaccinated north

Vaccination rates are as low as 55 per cent in parts of northern B.C. compared with the province’s overall rate of 82 per cent.

Dr. Shannon McDonald, the acting chief medical officer of the First Nations Health Authority, says low vaccination rates have led to a change in strategy.

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Instead of mass clinics where few may show up, the vaccines are stored and waiting for those who come for medical appointments.

Unfortunately, vaccines do not have an unlimited shelf life, which means some shots never made it into any arms before they were thrown out.

“We know that that risks some wastage, and from an ethical point of view that was a real struggle. But at the same time if I can vaccinate one, two or three people and then beat the bushes a little bit for the other seven in the community who might be able to take it, that’s what I’m going to do,” McDonald said.

McDonald says there is mistrust in the health-care system from many in the First Nations community.Fraser Valley restaurant flouting B.C.’s vaccine card requirement ordered to close

Those fears have only been fuelled by the recent confirmation of hundreds of unmarked graves in Kamloops, which has brought back painful memories of systemic racism within the government of Canada and the church.