A recently released Alberta Government COVID-19 Task Force report has sparked significant debate, calling for major policy changes regarding vaccine use, particularly for children, teenagers, and lower-risk individuals.
The findings raise serious concerns about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and transparency, urging a re-evaluation of public health recommendations. Employers’ vaccination policies, which were introduced based on public health policies may not have aligned with emerging scientific data, particularly as our understanding of COVID-19 and vaccine efficacy evolved.
Key Findings and Recommendations from the Task Force
The report outlines several major findings and recommendations, including:
- “Severe COVID-19 primarily affects the elderly with comorbidities.”
- “Children and teenagers have a low risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”
- “The COVID-19 vaccines were not designed to halt transmission of the virus and there is limited data on their effectiveness in preventing severe illness in children.”
- “Reports of deaths and injuries attributed to the vaccines were identified, as well as a known risk of myocarditis, particularly in young males.”
- “The Task Force recommends halting the use of vaccines without full disclosure of their potential risks, ending their use in healthy children and teenagers, and providing support for vaccine-injured individuals.”
- “The Task Force recommends additional research and an opt-out mechanism from federal public health policy.”
- “Careful assessment of risks and benefits, transparency, and individual choice in decision-making are vital for any future pandemic response vaccination initiative.”
These findings suggest that public health policies, which employers relied on to introduce their own vaccination policies in the workplace, may not have aligned with emerging scientific data, particularly as our understanding of COVID-19 and vaccine efficacy evolved.
What Did the Report Reveal?
1. Vaccine Effectiveness Was Limited for Low-Risk Groups
- “The highest risk of severe COVID-19 was in individuals 75 and older with multiple comorbidities—yet vaccines were aggressively promoted for lower-risk individuals under 60.”
- “There was limited data supporting vaccine effectiveness in stopping transmission, especially as new variants like Omicron emerged.”
- “The precautionary principle used to justify mandates early in the pandemic no longer applied by mid-2022, as two-dose vaccines provided minimal protection against infection.”
2. Safety Concerns from Worldwide Safety Pfizer Report on Post-Authorization Data up to February 28, 2021:
A review of Pfizer’s own vaccine safety data report approved on April 30, 2021 from its three-month post-authorization trial raised shocking concerns:
- “1,223 deaths were attributed to the vaccine within a short period.”
- “42,086 individuals reported injuries within four days of vaccination.”
- “45 percent of affected individuals were between the ages of 18 and 50, a group already at low risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.”
- “71 percent of those affected were women.”
Further findings in Pfizer’s own documents revealed:
- A 9 page list of adverse events of special interest spanning “1,236 different diseases linked to the vaccine.”
- “Concerns over incomplete adverse event reporting, with estimates suggesting only 1 to 10 percent of vaccine-related injuries are actually recorded.”
3. Special Risk Factors for Certain Groups
The report also raised specific concerns about certain populations:
- “Pregnant women: The Pfizer randomized controlled trial indicated negative outcomes, yet vaccines were widely recommended without clear safety data.”
- “Children and teenagers: Despite being at low risk of severe COVID-19, vaccines were widely recommended, even though long-term risks remained uncertain.”
- “Myocarditis and pericarditis: These serious heart conditions are well-documented vaccine risks, particularly in young males. They can have lifelong consequences, including fatal outcomes.”
Challenges in Accessing Vaccine Safety Data
The report also criticized the lack of transparency in Alberta’s health system regarding vaccine safety data. The public struggled to access clear information, and adverse event reporting remained incomplete.
Some key concerns included:
- “Difficulties in obtaining reliable data on vaccine-related injuries.”
- “Concerns about Emergency Use Authorization allowing rapid approval but making it difficult to halt vaccines when concerns arose.”
- “Limited acknowledgment of risks by public health officials, even after new evidence emerged.”
What’s Next for Employers?
With these findings now public, the debate over vaccine mandates and informed consent is gaining renewed attention. The report highlights the importance of ongoing research, transparency, individual choice in public health decisions, and careful consideration being required prior to an employer deciding whether to mandate vaccination in the workplace as a pre-requisite to continued employment.
As governments and policymakers review these recommendations, a larger conversation needs to happen about how public health policies are developed, communicated, and adjusted as scientific understanding evolves.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Given potential liability for employers as a result of vaccination injury and death, should employers immediately halt COVID-19 vaccinations for workers given the findings in this report? Were employers too aggressive with COVID-19 vaccine policies for low-risk groups? If vaccination injuries or deaths occur, should employers be liable? Join the discussion and share your thoughts.
Need Legal Guidance?
In light of these findings, employers should reevaluate the necessity of their vaccination policies to 1) assess whether a vaccination policy is required, 2) if so, whether the vaccination policy aligns with evolving legal and scientific standards, 3) which workers it should apply to, 4) whether it should be mandatory, and 5) how to handle accommodation requests under the Human Rights Code.
Minken Employment Lawyers (Est. 1990) can assist businesses with the above to minimize their exposure to liability.
Contact us today to ensure your workplace policies reflect the latest legal developments. Visit our website or email contact@minken.com or call 905-477-7011 for a consultation.
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Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice nor should it be relied on as legal advice or opinion.