On Canada Day, Haldimand-Norfolk’s acting medical officer of health publicly reiterated his support for those peacefully protesting against vaccine mandates around the country.
“The COVID-19 vaccine mandates are straightforward violations of medical ethics,” Dr. Matt Strauss tweeted. “They were also a failure as a matter of practicality. They have done so much harm to our social fabric. I am grateful for those standing up against them peacefully today.”
Strauss has more than 28,000 followers on his social media app, which features a photo of a 2014 pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong where people are floating a giant banner that says “They can’t kill us all.”
He is among others who have raised concerns about the unintended negative consequences of lock-downs and mandates, asking whether they have done more harm than good.
“The COVID vaccines have saved thousands of lives in Canada. The mandates have not. In fact, they may have cost more than they saved,” he tweeted
Many expressed thanks for his stance. Others debated or veered off into anti-vaccine territory and one person said they were “horrified” that Strauss is the MOH for his area.
“The poor people you are supposed to be protecting.” said @lollybags45.
In a weekend interview, Strauss emphasized his strong pro-vaccine stance but says firing, shaming or ostracizing those who were unvaccinated did little to encourage them to get their shots.
“I don’t think (government mandates) should have been in place and shouldn’t have been in for as long as they were. I understand people are still concerned because when the federal mandates were lifted it was emphasized they preserved the right to bring them back.
“If folks want to peacefully protest that, they have my support.”
Meanwhile, the doctor is doing his best to convert people to the benefits of vaccinations, even if it means doing it one person at a time.
“My concern is that people are less likely to get vaccinated when they feel their backs are up against the wall. I’ve asked everyone who’s not vaccinated in Haldimand-Norfolk to call my office and I’ve been able to convince many to get vaccinated.
“I want to convince people, not coerce people.”
Strauss said he’s talked to “dozens and dozens” personally, listening to their grievances and anger and then laying down his bottom line.
“We talk about what I’ve seen in the ICU. For a year-and-a-half, I saw many vulnerable people die of COVID-19 despite every effort we made to save them. I’ve not seen one person fully vaccinated who died of COVID-19.”
Strauss said it’s apt that hospitals and nursing homes have regulations requiring healthcare workers to have up-to-date vaccinations, since that’s an agreed-upon requirement upon taking a job.
Coercion happens when an employer forces a medical decision on a worker in order for them to keep the job, he said.
At the end of June, Strauss told Norfolk’s Health and Social Services board that the pandemic was “over” and remaining restrictions were likely to harm, rather than improve public health.
“Now is a great time to remove any Plexiglas barriers you may be harboring,” he said in his report.
Strauss explained he means the virus has entered new territory where more waves may come but “for all local intents and purposes, the pandemic has passed” into an endemic situation.
“’Pandemic’ has a specific technical definition. (Even) experts I’ve disagreed with on other occasions have said more or less the same thing.”
Strauss isn’t new to controversy.
There was a firestorm of social media complaints when he was hired as the acting medical officer of health in the fall of 2021, leading to some politicians wanting to retract his offer of employment.
But Strauss said he’s grateful to the community and its leaders gave him a chance.
“When I came here, the COVID-19 mortality rate was much higher than other rural areas but, over the last year, we’ve done really well. Mortality has fallen and I’m proud of the community for giving me a chance to put some of my ideas into practice.”
He’s encouraging all levels of government to reconsider future lock-downs and mandates and to evaluate what really works.
“We found masks are not the magic wand and retrofitting schools is not the magic wand. We have to figure out what’s high yield and so far, vaccination is the only magic wand. The death rate goes down by 90 per cent if you get vaccinated.
So, he said, his message to the community is simple.
“I wish COVID would go away but it will be with us forever.
“If you’re not vaccinated, now’s a great time to get vaccinated because there will be more waves.”
@EXPSGamble