My background: [I am a] registered physiotherapist in Whistler (41 years working in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand in various fields of medicine including ICU) [and] I have read many of the letters sent to Pique re: COVID-19.
My thoughts on this and the science and information of other scientists/doctors, and my own observations of others that have had the COVID-19 vaccine are considered in [this] letter.
The Whistler Blackcomb ski season ended abruptly, due to rising variant cases in Whistler, [caused by] increasing post-ski socializing and visitors from out of province, who spread the virus to others and our own residents.
I watched the world news, [including] from my home country [of the] U.K., as the variants of concern increased in numbers [there] and other European countries, India, Korea etc. and then the USA. I knew that it wouldn’t be too long before Whistler, B.C. would start to see the spread of the variants here, because of open country travel from Ontario, Quebec and other places.
Your frontline doctors at Whistler Health Care Centre are saying everyone should get vaccinated. It is vitally important to do so.
I recently heard of a young lady [who] contracted a COVID-19 variant and this has affected her heart, and she now has to have a heart transplant. Other young people have become quite sick. There are many people who have had COVID-19 and still suffer from the effects one year later: “COVID-19 long haulers.”
If you don’t believe what your doctors say in Whistler, watch Dr. John Campbell on YouTube for up-to-date information on COVID-19. He is a PhD in virology sequencing. Also, MedCram’s Dr. Roger Seheult PhD [California pulmonologist]. These are excellent resources of information to help everyone in understanding COVID-19 and vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been developed more quickly due to the fact that virologists have worked with the coronavirus for years—since, and before, the SARS- [coronavirus] CoV-1 [in] 2003. (This should help to dispel the concerns of length of time that the vaccine has been available.)
Secondly, the variants of concern, particularly P1/P2 (known as 20J/501Y.V3 (Brazilian variant) and B1.17 British variant and 501Y.V2 South African variants (variant of SARS-CoV-2) are serious spreaders and mostly the P1 is in Whistler now, and the cases have risen quickly.
I have had my vaccine. (Pfizer, with no side effects.) All my family in the U.K., sisters and husbands, around 60 years old and others have had vaccines [AstraZeneca, Pfizer], and have not had the concerns of blood clots, which is evidently due to very low platelet counts and the disease of heparin induced thrombocytopenia. [This] is a very rare condition.
If you have any concerns about the vaccine or don’t believe the doctors, you should look at the YouTube information from MedCram’s Dr. Campbell, or Instagram’s Dr. Noc (immunologist).
My concern, and that of others, [is about when we] hear of people who aren’t prepared to get the vaccine. I have met a few of you in my clinic. Those of you that are concerned, please read up, look at these sites and make an informed decision. We can't stop this virus in its tracks without the vaccine. We need herd immunity ASAP, to prevent this virus further mutating. (Herd immunity is the number of the population that needs to be vaccinated in order to stop the virus mutating. According to research, we don’t know that percentage yet.)
Virologists can at present control the virus with the current vaccine, but with the increase in mutation, this may not continue. Please don’t make it any harder by not getting the vaccine. We have a social responsibility to protect humanity.
Sally John BSc(PT) // Whistler
