(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Call for Vaccination

Saskatchewan Medical Association calls for mandatory vaccines for all health-care workers

Aug 11, 2021 | 5:00 PM

With a recent uptick of COVID-19 cases in the province, the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) is calling for mandatory vaccinations for all health-care workers.

Many Saskatchewan physicians are asking the government to mandate vaccines for all health-care workers as an added measure to precautions already taken for the safety of patients, colleagues, themselves, and to safeguard the capacity of a very tired health-care system.

“We have seen what has happened over the last year to the health-care system due to the COVID pandemic,” Dr. Eben Strydom, SMA president and a practicing family physician in Melfort told paNOW. “We have had a lot of opportunities now to see the differences that vaccines make to the spread of the virus and the risk to individuals.”

Today’s statement by the SMA echoes a similar call last week by the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association.

These calls are aimed at stunting an anticipated fourth wave of the pandemic.

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“People are moving about more openly, and many people aren’t wearing masks,” Strydom said. “We think there is still significant risk, and there is still plenty of people that aren’t vaccinated.

“We think vaccinations are an excellent way to deal with some of this risk. We know it doesn’t take everything away, but it certainly makes a big difference.”

According to the president, there should be trust in the health-care system and there is enough evidence to know the vaccinations are safe.

“We just want to call on everybody to limit the risk to our patients and the most vulnerable,” Strydom added. “The real vulnerable people in our system are transplant patients and I think there is an expectation that health-care workers should be vaccinated.”

In the news release they did add provisions should still be made for health-care workers with medical exemptions, such as people with allergies to components of the vaccine or where the vaccine could be harmful to their health, or those who object on bona fide religious or conscientious objection grounds.

The SMA is strongly encouraging people to:

· Wear masks in indoor public spaces, especially in locations that are not limited to vaccinated people.

· Practice regular hand washing and hygiene.

· Maintain physical distancing when possible.

· Stay home and get tested for COVID-19 when sick.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8