The Nova Scotia Civil Liberties Association (NSCLA) is dedicated to preserving the civil liberties of all Nova Scotians. As such, the NSCLA is advocating on behalf of healthcare workers who remain on a forced unpaid leave of absence (LOA) in Nova Scotia. The NSCLA is demanding the reassessment and revision of your vaccination policies as they clearly violate the civil liberties of Nova Scotians. We uphold the civil rights of individuals to; refuse a medical intervention without discrimination; review all safety, efficacy and ingredients; and practice informed consent.
Prior to May 2023, the NSHA and IWK stated they were following the Health Protection Act Order implemented by Public Health and the Nova Scotia Government. This order was lifted on May 23, 2023, transferring ownership of all COVID-19 vaccination policies to employers. The NSCLA is reminding the NSHA and IWK that they are no longer bound or protected by the Health Protection Act Order.
According to various studies, vaccine effectiveness was lower than 20% at 6 months from the administration of the primary vaccination series and less than 30% at 9 months from a booster dose (Francesco Menegale, MSc; Mattia Manica, PhD; Agnese Zardini, PhD; et al).
In December 2023, an arbitrator in a B.C. case awarded Purolator Canada workers compensation for lost wages after being placed on leave due to their Covid-19 vaccination status. “By the spring of 2022, the prevailing medical opinion indicated that a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination was largely ineffective against the Omicron variant after 25 weeks”.
Many healthcare workers received their primary series three years ago. These healthcare workers are no more protected against COVID-19 than ones who did not take the primary series at all. The ongoing argument by NSHA and IWK for these policies to protect against staff shortages (healthcare workers who have not received a primary series are more likely to be off work sick) is not backed by any evidence. As a result of keeping healthcare staff on a forced unpaid LOA we have qualified workers traveling to other provinces for work.
Recent studies on transmission are also proving that vaccination policies need to be reassessed. Studies conclusively show that the transmission of COVID-19 is no different between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, thus removing the issue of transmission from any argument or justification.
In a recent Chronicle Herald article, Dr. Shelly McNeil, Senior Medical Director, NSHA Covid-19 Planning and Implementation, was quoted stating “Nova Scotia completed an analysis that looked at the risk of spread from vaccinated versus unvaccinated people”. She further indicated the results would not be shared with the public. The NSCLA formally requests that the NSHA release this information to the public as no clear reason has been given as to why it would be deliberately withheld.
Absent a current booster mandate, there is no logical or scientific justification for keeping qualified healthcare workers on forced unpaid LOA on the basis of vaccine status.
The NSCLA calls on the NSHA, IWK and all healthcare employers in Nova Scotia to immediately end all policies requiring primary series COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.