Lethbridge MP wants unvaccinated to be 'respected, appreciated' in the community
Lethbridge Conservative MP Rachael Thomas is facing questions after suggesting vaccinated people are more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than the unvaccinated.
The comments came in a video posted on social media where she also defends those who choose to not get the shot.
Thomas turned to Facebook recently to share her views on vaccines, and while some residents seem to support her positions, her comments aren't sitting well with others.
“We see that the number of people who are coming down with COVID-19 and even being admitted to the hospital, or actually the number of vaccinated, sorry, the number of fully vaccinated is actually greater than the number of those who are not vaccinated,” said Thomas during a Facebook live posted to her account on Dec. 16.
According to the Alberta Government, as of Tuesday, 69 people were in ICU with COVID-19 and of those, 55, or 80 per cent were unvaccinated.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Craig Jenne says data shows vaccines remain a critical tool to limiting serious cases of the virus.
"Right now in the province of Alberta we see approximately two-thirds of those hospitalized are unvaccinated, keeping in mind they only represent less than one-fifth of the general public, it shows exactly how protective vaccines are,” said Jenne.
During the Facebook live, Thomas also defended those who choose to not get vaccinated saying; “They’re losing their voice and their credibility. They are losing any sort of respect or appreciation within the community.”
She also says rapid testing is a better alternative to vaccines.
“What I find interesting is actually, if they were tested on a daily basis, they’re actually safer than those who are vaccinated because we know science shows that even if you’re fully vaccinated, you can still carry the virus and you can still transfer it to another individual,” said Thomas.
Jenne countered that “Rapid testing is an important tool and can make environments safer but it is not a replacement."
"A rapid test represent a specific moment in time and that can change even by the end of the day," he said.
"If you were previously infected and asymptomatic and have not developed enough viral load yet to test positive, by the end of the day or the next day you may now be infectious to others. Rapid tests are only feasible if they are used regularly.”
Thomas isn't the first Conservative MP to make questionable comments about the pandemic. MP Marilyn Gladu criticized vaccine mandates and questioned the severity of the virus. She was later chastised by leader Erin O'Toole.
Political watchers say controversial comments from individual MPs can hurt a party's image.
“If you’re going to be an alternative in voter’s minds, you have to provide credible alternatives and leadership in these areas," said Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University. "So this hurts not just the party in general terms, it raises questions about the leader and the leaders inability to bring his caucus members on side."
CTV News reached out to Thomas’ office and the Conservative Party for comment and clarification on the video, but have not heard back.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel intensifies bombardment of Gaza and southern Lebanon on the eve of Oct. 7 anniversary
A new round of airstrikes hit Beirut suburbs late Sunday as Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon in a widening war with Iran-allied militant groups across the region. Palestinian officials said a strike on a mosque in Gaza killed at least 19 people.
Hurricane Milton is growing stronger as it blows toward Florida's Tampa Bay region
People across Florida were given notice Sunday that Hurricane Milton is intensifying rapidly and will likely be a major hurricane before slamming midweek into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.
The cooking method you need to learn to get excited about vegetables this fall, expert says
'Eat more vegetables,' doctors and dietitians say over and over. But for many people, it’s hard to do, because they aren’t excited about veggies or just don’t like them.
Rare cloud formations ripple the sky over Ottawa
A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.
New Far North hospital moves closer to being built after $1.8B design, build contract awarded
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.
'Environmental racism': First Nations leaders claim cancer-causing contamination was covered up
The people of Fort Chipewyan believe the federal government knew its water was contaminated and hid the issue for years. Now the chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is leading the call for immediate action.
Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, dead at 63
Christopher Ciccone, a multihyphenate artist, dancer, designer and younger brother of Madonna, has died. He was 63.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
A year into the Israel-Hamas war, students say a chill on free speech has reached college classrooms
As a junior at George Washington University, Ty Lindia meets new students every day. But with the shadow of the Israel-Hamas war hanging over the Washington, D.C., campus, where everyone has a political opinion, each new encounter is fraught.