Regarding vaccine mandates, O’Toole just doesn’t get it

By being steadfast in refusing to support vaccine mandates for travellers and federal public servants, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is missing the big picture.

While we need protection from COVID-19 — which rapid testing and masks help provide — the goal is its eradication. This is only possible with a sufficiently large proportion of fully vaccinated individuals essentially choking off the ability of the virus to transmit. In the meantime, the fourth wave carries on, filling hospital ICUs and providing the virus opportunity to mutate.

O’Toole wants to encourage vaccinations through education, incentives and an appeal to patriotism. If it were only a matter of following the recommendations of scientists and health professionals and showing concern for the physical and economic health of fellow Canadians, we’d have it under control by now.

Rather, he’s pandering to a small group of individuals who are interested only in freedoms — but not responsibilities — while those that did the right thing by getting fully vaccinated are held back.

Richard Schertzer, Milton