City doc who donated to convoy questions vaccinations
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/02/2022 (945 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The medical community is concerned a Winnipeg doctor, who donated to the so-called “freedom convoy,” is questioning vaccination and public health measures.
Dr. Kaz Czaplinski, who immigrated to Canada from Poland and works in cardiac surgery at St. Boniface Hospital, said he supports the protests because he “can’t stand still and watch (a) totalitarian system getting rooted in this country.”
His name appeared in information obtained after hackers took the GiveSendGo site off-line Sunday and shared information about “freedom convoy” donors, including their postal codes, how much they gave and when they made the donation.
A Free Press analysis on Monday found it included 1,207 donors who listed a Canadian postal code starting with R, meaning they have a Manitoba address. Those donations amounted to US$146,492, plus donations to the GiveSendGo platform that amounted to another $9,242.90.
The hacktivist group Distributed Denial of Secrets subsequently leaked details of a separate fundraiser, called “Adopt-a-Trucker,” which included 91 addresses linked to Manitoba. Those donors gave US$7,369.41 to the convoy, plus an additional $502.64 for the GiveSendGo platform.
When the Free Press contacted Czaplinski for comment, he bristled at being questioned by a reporter via email, likening it to “interviews I was exposed to in my country, seeking for excuses to ‘cancel’ me.” He defended his right to free speech, and went on to explain his support for the protesters and criticism of public health measures.
“According to recent scientific articles all public health measures had at best marginal effect on the control of the pandemic,” the doctor wrote. “Omicron is good alternative to vaccination for the majority of population. It’s safe and effective for majority of non-elderly people,” adding that the “elderly and infirm should be vaccinated.”
His comments drew a swift rebuke from Doctors Manitoba Thursday.
“The overwhelming scientific evidence continues to confirm that vaccines provide better and longer-lasting protection than previous infections, and that’s why we recommend people still get fully vaccinated after they recover from a COVID-19 infection,” said a statement from the organization that represents doctors across Manitoba — more than 99 per cent of whom are fully vaccinated.
“To be clear, getting infected with COVID-19 as a way to build your immunity comes with serious risks, whereas vaccination provides a safe and effective form of protection, especially against severe illness, including against Omicron.”
Doctors Manitoba said it has been very clear throughout the pandemic that its advice “is guided by the scientific evidence about COVID-19 and the medical interventions used to prevent and treat it.”
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, which regulates the profession, declined to comment on anything specific to Czaplinski.
However, it did say the college has been clear “physicians must use evidence-informed scientific information in providing medical care.”
“To be clear, getting infected with COVID-19 as a way to build your immunity comes with serious risks, whereas vaccination provides a safe and effective form of protection, especially against severe illness, including against Omicron.” – Doctors Manitoba
In a statement Thursday, the regulatory body said it has “provided directives to members for following public health orders and against making comments or providing advice relating to COVID-19 that may be interpreted as contrary to public health recommendations, the law, codes of ethics and professionalism, or regulatory standards.”
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, meanwhile, said it won’t comment on the personal views of staff or any human resource matter concerning specific staff members. It said doctors are bound by standards of conduct and practice as defined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.
“Health care workers of all disciplines within the WRHA have a duty to contribute to providing safe, high-quality care to the patients, clients and residents they serve.” That includes COVID-19 safety protocols that require all direct-care staff to submit proof of vaccination, or participate in regular rapid testing if they are not fully vaccinated.
“Health care workers of all disciplines within the WRHA have a duty to contribute to providing safe, high-quality care to the patients, clients and residents they serve.” – Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
“In addition to other safety protocols, including screening and personal protective equipment, this is an important protection for our patients, clients, residents — some of who are at the greatest risk for the most serious effects of the virus — as well as the health of our community as a whole.”
Czaplinski did not respond, when asked, if he is vaccinated. He did say he “chose” to support “peaceful protest and this is my democratic right.”
The doctor made the online donation to GiveSendGo days after it took over from GoFundMe, which backed away from the “freedom convoy” stating “We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity.”
The doctor told the Free Press he made the donation “way before any blockades were reported.”
Records indicate Czaplinski donated $96 early on Feb. 7 — 10 days after the convoy occupied downtown Ottawa and a day after Ottawa declared a state of emergency. Its mayor, Jim Watson, pleaded for help, saying authorities were “outnumbered” and “losing this battle” against the raucous demonstrators.
— With files from Dylan Robertson
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Expert weighs in
We asked University of Saskatchewan epidemiologist Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine to respond to Dr. Kaz Czaplinski’s claims.
Free Press: Have public health measures had only a “marginal effect” on controlling the pandemic?
Muhajarine: “I am not sure what is meant by a ‘marginal effect’ because this is not a quantity and it doesn’t have much of a meaning. Public health countermeasures to reduce and control transmission of the virus — masking, social distancing, testing, tracing and isolation, staying home when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, reducing large gatherings and density of people gathering indoors, cleaner indoor air through ventilation and filtration systems — have worked to control this air-borne respiratory virus. These public health measures are consistent with what we know about air-borne pathogens, not just SARS-CoV-2. Studies have shown empirically that these measures work to protect people, not only in one country but in multiple countries all over the world. These studies typically compare a population in particular place with and without these public health measures. It is important to note that these measures worked before vaccines were available. They work best when they are followed in concert and in complement to each other, for example, masking and social distancing, testing, tracing and isolation. Anyone can say anything—and a lot of people do. However the claims need to be backed up by credible evidence, absent which it is just a claim without a basis.
Free Press: Is the Omicron variant “a good alternative to vaccination for the majority of the population”?
Muhajarine: Some studies have shown that immunity acquired from having COVID holds against future infections and if infected against serious outcomes from the disease. However, this is not a strategy at the population level because we will have infection rates so high that it will likely paralyze a society through absenteeism and great disruption because essential services will be compromised and severely curtailed. This is also not good a strategy at the individual level, because amongst all those high number of cases infected, some will die of COVID or be hospitalized. Further, some people will experience long COVID — health limitations months after someone is initially infected. Also, we can’t assume that immunity gained from having Omicron will hold against other variants, especially if more virulent variants were to emerge in the future.”
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020.
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History
Updated on Thursday, February 17, 2022 7:57 PM CST: Adds photo of doctor.
Updated on Thursday, February 17, 2022 8:10 PM CST: Corrects spelling of Czaplinski
