Former BC Ferries employee to be heard by BC Human Rights Tribunal.

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Shortage of vaccine will result in rationing

Island Health's chief medical officer says he's frustrated, disheartened and concerned by what he calls the “international squabbling” and the hoarding of vaccines in certain countries. Dr. Richard Stanwick says there will be no shipments of Pfizer vaccine delivered to BC this week or next, and it's still not clear how many vaccines will be delivered after that. As a result, provincial health officials have decided people who need their second dose of the vaccine will not get it within 35 days as planned. Now they will receive it at day 42. Stanwick says the shortage has also forced Island Health to consider rationing which health care workers will be vaccinated during phase one.

"And it's gotten to the point where we may even have to ration it to only those hospitals where there are COVID units. So I think some of the really big frustration is the degree to which we're playing who gets into the lifeboat and who gets out of the lifeboat, when it comes to vaccine."—Island Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Stanwick.

Nevertheless, Stanwick is making no apologies for being one of the first in line to receive the Pfizer vaccine. He says he is the only member of the executive team at Island Health to receive the vaccine. Stanwick says he did so after consulting with the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

"I spoke to Dr. Henry about this, asked her about the appropriateness and I can tell you, given as the advocate for this particular vaccine, did I believe in it? and I can tell you I have had more than half a dozen members of the community, walk up to me and ask: 'Do you believe the vaccine is safe?' and I've said 'I've taken it.' 'Oh, so you really believe in it?' And I've said 'yes.' So if I'm gonna preach about something, I'm going to basically practice it as well."—Island Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Stanwick.

Stanwick adds he plans to take part in future immunization clinics.

COVID-19 on a plane?

People who travelled to Vancouver Island via Air Canada or Westjet last week are being advised to monitor their health, due to possible COVID-19 exposures. The BC Center for Disease Control says the affected flights are Air Canada Jazz flight 8081 from Vancouver to Victoria on Friday, January the 22nd and Westjet flight 3315 from Calgary to Comox on Sunday, January 24th. More details can be found on the BCCDC website.

Allegations made regarding racial discrimination in human rights complaint

A former BC Ferries Employee will have his allegation of racial discrimination heard by a BC Human Rights Tribunal after all. Imraan Goondiwala was fired by the ferry corporation in 2017. It said Goondiwala was fired because he "stole company time" by discussing union matters while on the job. Goondiwala argues he was discriminated against because another white employee who did the same thing was reprimanded and docked one day's pay. The former employee filed earlier complaints about being passed over for promotions but the Tribunal dismissed those complaints for being too far in the past to be considered. There is no date set for the Human Rights Tribunal hearing into Goondiwala's complaint over his firing.