Chatham-Kent's top doctor is urging the public to trust the COVID-19 vaccines once they're approved by Health Canada.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said the various vaccines up for approval are safe and the sooner we get them the better. Colby said there is no benefit to waiting for other countries to roll them out because they have already been tested and proven safe. Colby said it would have been better to have a vaccine last spring but understands why all the vaccines must go through very "robust" and lengthy testing protocols to make them safe.
"There is a very, very rigorous vaccine testing program that occurs in multiple phases. Vaccines are incredibly safe and all the vaccines that are being submitted for approval to Health Canada have proven safety records," Colby said. "I don't think people should be hesitant at all about having the vaccines as soon as they are approved. Any vaccine that gets approved will be safe and I would roll up my sleeve at the earliest opportunity that I have to get that vaccine."
Dr. Colby said people with a high risk of death should be vaccinated first and then individuals with the greatest potential to spread the virus should be inoculated after that. He also believes hospital staff should be a very high priority but added all of that prioritizing will be up to upper levels of government with some possible local discretion.
Colby is anticipating that several vaccines may be approved by Health Canada this month. He admitted there will be some mild arm pain with the vaccine and people may feel off for a day or two but it's better than getting COVID-19.
