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Editorial: Hospital protests

It takes a special level of abhorrent behaviour to protest governmental COVID-19 measures in front of a hospital, of all places.
Airdrie Our View_text

It takes a special level of abhorrent behaviour to protest governmental COVID-19 measures in front of a hospital, of all places.

Protests against vaccine verification were held at some of Alberta’s hospitals on Sept. 13, including the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton. Representatives from the Alberta government, Alberta Health Services (AHS), and health-care unions condemned the events.

“Our health-care workers are doing all they can to care for Albertans, and they deserve the utmost respect and support,” read a statement from AHS about the hospital protests. “If you oppose masking, vaccinations, or any other measures taken to prevent COVID-19 transmission, that is your right. But to target health-care workers with anger and vitriol is not acceptable, particularly now.”

Our newsroom agrees with AHS on this matter. If people are against the idea of vaccine verification, they do have the right to protest peacefully and safely. As much as we disagree with their reasoning, that is a part of democracy. But they should do so outside of the legislature, where these types of political decisions are made.

Hospital workers do not decide health-care policy. In fact, hospital workers are the ones who bear the brunt of health-care policy – or the lack thereof, if you consider Alberta’s recent COVID-19 response.

In addition to being in extremely poor taste, these protests ran the risks of disrupting or obstructing hospital operations.

Alberta’s ICU units are filling with COVID-19 patients at the moment, the vast majority of whom are unvaccinated. According to provincial statistics, there are more than 800 COVID-19 patients in Alberta’s hospitals and nearly 200 in ICU units as of press time. The health-care professionals who take care of these people deserve praise, not to be jeered or whistled at as they enter or leave their workplace.

If you’re the kind of person who thinks protesting COVID-19 vaccination mandates in front of a hospital is a good idea, then shame on you. Don’t be that person.

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