'Stop spreading misinformation': Alberta country star tweets about COVID-19 vaccination
A Calgary-born country music star is under fire for a recent social media post where he stated that since he had COVID-19 before, he doesn't need to be vaccinated.
Paul Brandt, a multi-award winning artist, wrote on social media Friday night that he was told by "an Alberta doctor" because he was infected with COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic, there was "no medical need" for him to get the jab.
He went on to say that he isn't "an anti-vaxxer" and wanted to start a conversation on the topic, linking to his Facebook page where he went into further depth about his thoughts on the matter.
"I want to be clear, I am not against vaccines. To be sure, COVID-19 vaccines work well to provide good protection against severe outcome from COVID-19 for individuals and society. It is a good and responsible measure to strongly consider getting vaccinated both for yourself, and for the rest of the community and country," he wrote.
"What is troubling me is this – Why aren’t people who have had COVID and recovered being included in the conversation? Why are we not being recognized as people who have adequate immunity. Why are people who don’t need to be vaccinated being pressured to vaccinate in Canada?"
However, other Alberta doctors were quick to respond to Brandt's comments, condemning them as "spreading misinformation" and "totally wrong."
However, some did come to Brandt's defence, saying that he was misinformed by the doctor.
VACCINE EQUALS PROTECTION
Earlier in the pandemic, Alberta Health did confirm to CTV News that all Albertans, whether they've been infected with COVID-19 or not, need the vaccination to stop the virus.
While Premier Jason Kenney stated in April that Albertans can have "natural immunity" to the virus after being infected by it, the ministry said that didn't mean they are adequately protected.
"There is evidence that having recovered from COVID-19 does provide some immunity to the virus. That is what is meant by 'natural immunity,'" said Tom McMillan, former assistant director of communications with Alberta Health back on April 17.
"However, evidence is still emerging about exactly how much immunity develops and how long it lasts."
A nurse gives the first COVID-19 vaccine in Edmonton, to Sahra Kaahiye in Edmonton on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Further research, conducted by King's College London found that while some COVID-19 patients with even mild infections built up some immune response, it only lasted several months.
After three months only 16.7 per cent of the study group had maintained high levels of COVID-19-neutralizing antibodies, and after 90 days several patients had no detectable antibodies in their bloodstream.
(With files from AFP)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.