A well-liked Port Alberni paediatrician is forbidden from attending to patients at West Coast General Hospital because of his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Dr. Chris McCollister says he’s not against vaccines, but he isn’t recommending the COVID vaccination for his young patients
“There’s good papers now that show the risk of hospitalization for 12-17 year olds after the shot is greater from cardiac events than the risk of hospitalization after contracting COVID,” he said. “I’m not against vaccines but for my population that I see, it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense until we get more information.
McCollister formerly had his office at the hospital, but can now only see patients at his new office on 9th Avenue.
As a result of Dr. McCollister not being vaccinated himself, the hospital is down to one pediatrician.
“The more I researched it the more I realized that there is a ton of vaccinne injury out there and at this point for my age and my health status I would rather get COVID and start early treatment than take the risk with the vaccine,” he said.
He says he’s not alone in his concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, and estimates 25-30 health care workers have lost their jobs at the Alberni hospital due to their refusal to get the vaccine.
According to Island Health, 2% of their healthcare workers are not vaccinated, and as a result will not be able to work.
An online petition has been has been started to restore his hospital priviledges and has already garnered more than 3600 signatures.
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