Bad Idea Coming After The Disability Support Workers, Guys
Have some anti-vax conspiracy theorist backlash, this time with added autism.
We have reached the part of the movie where the closet commie totalitarians are showing themselves. Quite a sight, isn’t it?
All it takes is a bit of a vague sentence about reducing your risk of severe ‘Rona; some vague mention of the largely-now-disproved potential for lessening the chance of passing on a virus that everyone will be catching in the short term anyway; not even close to a vague mention of the growing carnage of adverse reaction reports… and bam!! Civil liberties can smugly be dismissed by any armchair epidemiologist or corrupt politician fanboy-girl-person as standing in the way of The Greater Good.
But this isn’t about my fellow plebs — I jest with love, even if I’m slightly concerned about your current embrace of transhumanism. I’m actually after the people at the top: those who are either rolling out or ushering in with gold-trimmed red carpet this New jibby-jab-mandated Normal.
So, with that in mind, here is the full email that I sent to the CEO of Cam Can — Marc Lema — after his group email to disability support workers outlining his unconditional support for the just-announced State Government Covid vaccination mandates. Sorry Marc: I assume you are a nice guy, and this is nothing personal. But the gloves are off, and when free will goes out the window, so does a free pass to anyone.
(Lol: what did they expect would happen when they came for the disability support workers? Have some anti-vax conspiracy theorist backlash, this time with added autism.)
Before that though, and aside from the whole sheer passive aggressiveness of the act, why am I sharing this email?
Well, you might enjoy it, if you are feeling similar frustrations but without the outlet to express them.
You might also find it helpful and informative. While the second half relates more specifically to disability support work, the first half outlines the evidence that these vaccines do not prevent transmission and infection (hence making mandates redundant and self-defeating), makes the medical and ethical case against mandates, and reminds all employers of the need to engage in proper consultation with their employees — regardless of any seemingly inescapable policy decisions made by the State (remember: all we can do is stay focused on the process, and detached from the outcome).
Ideally, in case you feel like also flexing your inner nasty woman, or your inner toxic masculinity — whatever your personal suppressed shadow side is that will eventually need to be channeled towards something positive: you might even use this as a starting point for your own punching-upwards rant, if you felt up for joining the fight.
Hi Marc,
I felt compelled to again express my disappointment (but not so much surprise this time) with your email regarding mandatory Covid vaccination.
While you may well be aware of the significant scientific, medical and ethical arguments against these mandates, and are choosing here to take a political position, I will write on the basis that these are your sincere views.
I would start by suggesting that you do yourself a great disservice by again falling behind without question the push by the State Government for mandatory vaccination of Disability Support Workers. As I outlined in my previous email, the scientific basis for Covid vaccination to reduce transmission and infection rates is now called into question by a range of sources. Given you didn’t respond to my first email and my invitation to provide you with these sources, I will include them here.
We have the Director of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States stating that these vaccines do not stop transmission against the Delta variant, which is the dominant strain in Australia:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0730-mmwr-covid-19.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/05/health/us-coronavirus-thursday/index.html
We have a peer-reviewed paper finding the same viral loads between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, supported by the findings of a second pre-print academic paper, and another study on an outbreak in a fully vaccinated population in Israel:
https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2074
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.31.21261387v5
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.39.2100822
We have real world examples like Israel, the UK, and different American States: where high vaccination rates have lead to increases in infection rates (which stands in stark contrast to the success of India and various African countries to virtually eliminate Covid with low vaccination rates):
https://theexpose.uk/2021/10/21/83-percent-covid-19-deaths-among-fully-vaccinated/
https://www.newsmax.com/us/vermont-covid-record-infections/2021/10/20/id/1041357/
To confirm what these case studies suggest, we have a recent Harvard study that found a slightly positive relationship between vaccination rates and Covid case rates using the official data from 68 countries and almost 3000 US counties:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-021-00808-7
In fact, it is the opinion of one vaccine expert that the mass vaccination of young and healthy individuals is actually causing the increase in Covid infection rates that we now see in highly vaccinated populations:
https://www.geertvandenbossche.org/post/the-unforgivable-sin
The Federal Government through the Therapeutic Goods Administration makes it very clear that the basis of a vaccine is its potential to stop the spread of an infectious disease:
“Vaccines protect you and the people around you from serious and life-threatening diseases. There are some people in the community who cannot be vaccinated because they are too young or too sick. Widespread vaccination helps protect these people by making it more difficult for a disease to spread.”
https://www.tga.gov.au/vaccines-overview
The evidence presented above shows that they do no such thing: arguably making these injections not vaccines at all, but certainly challenging any scientific basis for them to be mandated for the greater community good.
In regards to the therapeutic value of these injections, it is noteworthy that you completely omit any mention of their increasingly apparent negative aspects — choosing only to repeat the same simplistic line that “Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19”.
As I also explained in my first email to you, these vaccines provide their protective benefit primarily to those most at-risk to this virus: notably the elderly and those with serious underlying health issues. For younger demographics — who you are no doubt aware make up a large proportion of support workers for Cam Can — there is proportionally very little risk posed by the virus itself. Thus, vaccinating these groups represents a delicate risk/benefit equation that must take into account the growing evidence of negative outcomes from these vaccines.
For you to completely ignore these very real concerns is both inexcusable and incredibly tone deaf, and is a view that can only be held by someone occupying an elitist position of privilege. If you had any feeling towards current public sentiment, you would understand that people are increasingly waking up to this type of condescension and gaslighting delivered to us by those in positions of authority.
Alternative and social media enables people to readily see the reality of this vaccine rollout for themselves: high rates of infection and transmission in highly vaccinated areas, as outlined above; growing evidence of severe breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated individuals leading to hospitalization and death at similar numbers to the unvaccinated; and growing evidence of a prevalence of severe adverse side effects — blood clotting, heart inflammation, neurological damage among many others — that still remain largely unreported and unacknowledged by mainstream outlets.
To simply make mention to the potential to apply for an exemption as a way to brush away these concerns ignores the fact that such exemptions are incredibly strict and limited to those people who have had previous reactions to vaccines. As Covid vaccines are not live attenuated vaccines, other claims for exemption are not valid. Thus, as someone who suffers from the vertigo and tinnitus associated with Meniere’s Disease, there is no avenue for me to even apply for an exemption, even though both of these symptoms are acknowledged side effects of Covid vaccination.
That all being said, your inability to acknowledge the real concerns about these new generation of vaccines is not surprising, given the stark lack of consultation Cam Can management has undertaken with its employees about this issue.
You might argue that your hands are tied in regards to these mandates, but that does not excuse the absence of attempt to engage with your employees — whether prior to this announcement (which you made very clear in your previous email that you were expecting) or a commitment to do so into the future as these open and ambiguous mandate requirements are rolled out.
There are many questions that are left unanswered in terms of the restrictions these mandates will impose on individual health freedom into the future. For example, it is now quite clear that the desire of Government is for these mandates to be conditional on participation in an ongoing vaccination booster program.
In this context, you have an obligation to address clearly and urgently for your employees this question: are you also in favour of periodic (likely 6 monthly) boosters as a condition of working for Cam Can? Do you see any place for natural immunity acquired from infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus (something now inevitable for all of us with our society planning to open back up), given multiple peer-reviewed studies have found natural immunity to be superior to vaccine immunity?
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.24.21262415v1
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.01.21258176v3
I would suggest that anyone claiming to be standing up for the best interests of their employees would at least have the decency to engage with them proactively, gauge their feelings and encourage their concerns to be heard — ideally also making an attempt to display some basic compassion for the impositions that will now be imposed on support workers, local coordinators, and ultimately members.
To build on that final point, and given you state yourself that this issue is ultimately about looking after the needs of the members we support, I would suggest that the greatest disservice you do to yourself is the lack of respect you show towards Cam Can members and their families/primary carers.
You completely dismiss the inevitable negative consequences for members that will come with the loss of Cam Can support workers due to these mandates. Many industries both in Australia and around the world are experiencing significant hardship and disruption due to the loss of unvaccinated employers. As you are hopefully aware, there is higher than average vaccine hesitancy in disability support workers, with this Australian study from April suggesting that at least 17% will not take the vaccine — one might expect this number to now be higher given the wealth of evidence both for the ineffectiveness of these injections to stop transmission and their emerging adverse side effects.
With this in mind, how exactly are you planning to “safeguard their supports” in the likelihood that numerous support workers will be forced out of their roles? Committed support workers do not grow on trees, as you seem to suggest here, and everyone involved in this profession knows it is already difficult enough to adequately cover shifts.
While I would prefer to not make this reply personal, the most fundamental and concerning issue I have with your email is how revealing it is towards your apparent personal views towards disability support work.
If you support these mandates, you also support the right of the State to overrule any opportunity for dialogue between support workers and members and their families/primary carers. How is this in any way a sustainable model for disability support work going forward?
A trusting relationship between the two parties is essential to best improve the quality of life of those we support, yet these mandates completely minimise this relationship and disempower both parties to be active agents outside of Government intervention. The fact that you are condoning this without question makes me question your suitability to be a leader in this industry.
This is compounded by the astonishing level of disrespect and absence of empathy implicit in your email towards any of your employees that will choose not to follow these mandates. Your position, it appears, is to essentially show them the door without any thought towards the real life implications of this for both the workers and the members they support. It seems incorrect vaccination status makes these real human relationships redundant and irrelevant.
Your tacit approval of these measures acts to perpetuate the toxic turnover rate of disability support workers, which leaves many members experiencing a dispiriting revolving door of companions in their lives. As I suggested above, I believe this is an untenable position for the CEO of a leading progressive disability support provider to hold.
Might I finish by strongly suggesting the following points of action by yourself and Cam Can management:
Acknowledge the lack of evidence that these vaccines reduce transmission and infection rates;
Acknowledge the proportionally low risk of this virus to the majority of support workers, and conversely the very real concerns of vaccine inefficacy and adverse side effects;
Acknowledge that the personal vaccination beliefs of members and/or their families/primary carers should be a priority, and that neither Government nor Cam Can should have the right to overrule such beliefs in regards to any perceived risk posed by unvaccinated support workers;
Commit to an immediate and ongoing process of consultation with both members and support workers in regards to the implications of these mandates going forward, and how they will impact current support arrangements.
A failure to action these items would show that you do not in fact take this issue seriously, and that you are instead happy to repeat Government talking points for convenience sake without question and without actual regard for the needs of Cam Can members and employees.
I will be sharing this email to our local support coordinators, and I encourage them to pass it on to other employees both in Esperance and around the State who share these concerns — and for them to in turn express their concerns directly to you and to hold you to account on the above points of action.
Until then, I look forward to your personal response.
Regards
Isaac Middle
💅🏼
(I didn’t add that emoji, but I should have)
Here is the original email sent out FYI
Hello Everyone
The State Government recently announced a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy with a phased approach to a wide range of occupations and workforces in Western Australia. This will enable industries and workforces to safely prepare for the continuity of services in the event of expected community transmission.
The WA Chief Health Officer has determined that certain occupations and industries are at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, or have a greater potential to transmit to vulnerable members of the community. Some workforces are themselves critical to the functioning of our society and there would be major impacts if they became infected with COVID-19. Vaccination aims to reduce any transmission risk associated with these cohorts continuing to move around the community and to ensure the continuation of the services to the community.
All staff employed by Cam Can fall into Group 1 ‘Occupations in which risk is sufficient due to high transmission, vulnerability or necessary to avoid catastrophic risk to safety of the community’ (see attached). Group 1 requires a first dose by 1 December 2021 and full vaccination by 31 December 2021.
All staff are eligible to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of your age. However, you can also choose to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is also available from selected community pharmacies. You will need to ensure you have received both doses of your chosen COVID-19 vaccination prior to the required date of 31 December 2021. You can get vaccinated at state-run COVID-19 clinics, at participating, GP respiratory clinic, pharmacies or Aboriginal Medical Services. You can learn more about the COVID-19 vaccination by visiting www.rollup.wa.gov.au or speaking directly to your GP.
Exemptions on medical grounds must be obtained from the Australian Immunisation Register using their IM011 form. This must be completed by your GP or specialist medical practitioner and submitted to the Australian Immunisation Register for assessment. Where an exemption is provided by them, this needs to be provided to Cam Can as proof of exemption by 1 December 2021.
Cam Can have a responsibility to ensure all staff are vaccinated or exempt from vaccination. Cam Can will require all staff to comply with the direction not to enter or work at a location if unvaccinated and to provide evidence to Cam Can of their vaccination status. Cam Can are required to keep records (including copies of the evidence of vaccination) and ensure unvaccinated staff are not permitted to work. It is an offence for a person to fail, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any of the directions. This is punishable by a fine of up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for businesses.
The WA Chief Health Officer has approved the following forms of evidence as proof of vaccination against COVID-19:
• an Australian Government COVID-19 vaccination certificate or an Immunisation History Statement recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register
• written confirmation issued by the Department of the COVID-19 vaccination received by them
Cam Can requires all staff to provide evidence of first dose by 1 December 2021 and full vaccination by 31 December 2021. This can be done by emailing info@camcan.org.au – if you have already been vaccinated then please provide this information as soon as possible. Equally, if you don’t intend to get vaccinated, please let Cam Can know as soon as possible by emailing info@camcan.org.au as you will not be able to continue working past the 1 December 2021 – our Members are always front and centre and we will need to put alternative arrangements in place to safeguard their supports.
I’d like to encourage everyone who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine to get one as soon as possible. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, and helps reduce the rate of transmission. The mandatory vaccination policy is based on health advice which is determined based on industry and workforce risk profiles and the proportionate risk of a job being undertaken.
Marc Lema
Chief Executive Officer