Dr. Noorali Bharwani

Dr. Scott Malmberg, a physician in Medicine Hat, Alberta recently posted a blog about his experience in COVID-19 ward at the local regional hospital. He was on duty for 48 hours. He had 16 admissions, two ICU transfers, four discharges and four deaths. He didn’t get much sleep.

Ninety per cent of these patients were not vaccinated. Most of these patients did not expect to be very sick with COVID-19. But many of these patients rapidly went into pulmonary failure requiring ventilators. You wonder, “Why would eligible individuals refuse to have lifesaving vaccines?”

Malmberg says hospitals are clogged up by unvaccinated sick people requiring life saving measures like ICU beds and use of high flow oxygen units. These patients use up all lifesaving drugs and services of demoralised over stretched doctors, nurses and other hospital staff. This leads to cancellation of urgent surgeries. It is hard to find beds for patients who come with stroke, heart attack and severe trauma. Cancer patients have to wait longer for surgery.

Another blog was brought to my attention recently. This was written by Dr. Peter Brindley, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, and the Dosseter Ethics Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton.

He wrote an open letter to the unvaccinated individuals. It was published in The BMJ Opinion (September 3, 2021). In part he says, “Many healthcare professionals are at a loss for words. Not only because we are exhausted, but because we simply cannot understand why so many of our fellow citizens refuse to get a simple vaccine.”

President of the Alberta Medical Association recently wrote, “Recent anti-vaccine protests that have blocked access to hospitals, along with bullying and threats, have added to the distress many of us are feeling. Alberta health care workers have experienced harassment and intimidation, both online and while going about the business of caring for patients.” He called this unacceptable behaviour.

Now we are into the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Health Organisation, so far 221 million people worldwide have contracted the disease and 4.5 million people have died from the illness. In Alberta and rest of Canada the number of people with COVID-19 are increasing. And majority of the people are unvaccinated individuals. Many of these patients die.

Alberta Government has provided general guidance to help Albertans and businesses follow “best practices” to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Alberta Health website says, “COVID-19 transmission is increasing and hospital admissions are rising, largely in unvaccinated Albertans. Alberta is taking temporary measured steps to reduce transmission and prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed. These temporary measures came into effect September 4 at 8 am.”

Few days ago, the premier of Alberta acknowledged the ongoing risk of exposure. He advised people to “use common sense and exercise personal responsibility” when enjoying their new freedom.

The premier is reported to have said, “People will get infected. Some people will get sick. Regrettably, a few people likely will pass away, as has been the case forever with influenza, but we don’t shut down society to deal with that kind of limited and controllable risk. We manage the risk. The vaccines give us a superpower to manage it. Let’s embrace that.” Is this the right approach?

The fourth wave is hitting us hard. The numbers are rising every day. One way to take care of our doctors, nurses, hospital staff, our seniors, our brothers, sisters and children is to get vaccinated, wear a mask and maintain safe distance from others.

This is not over yet. Our health care professionals need our help.

Take care.

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The head of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), Dr. Paul Boucher, in an open letter says he has significant concerns with the province’s decision to suspend almost all of its COVID-19 public health protocols.

He is not alone in expressing this sentiment. Some experts believe fourth wave is inevitable, primarily among young and healthy individuals. What about the threat of variants to people who are vaccinated and those who are not? Do we have a plan for them? The majority of the Delta cases in Canada are in those who are unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated. It is mostly those who are unvaccinated who are dying after contracting COVID-19.

We have been warned of an incoming Delta variant-driven fourth wave. Experts say that is likely to be very different than Canada’s previous waves. We know the Delta variant is highly contagious. It is predicted the unvaccinated individuals will thrust the country into fourth wave of the disease. Some experts believe fourth wave is already here.

In spite of all this the Alberta Government recently announced Stage 3 of Alberta’s Open for Summer plan. All other public health measures have been lifted. This includes all restrictions on:

• social gatherings – there are no longer capacity limits on either indoor or outdoor gatherings
• recreation, performance and entertainment activities
• business closures and capacity restrictions
• large events, including concerts, sporting events, exhibitions and festivals

What about wearing a mask?

Individuals may choose to continue to wear masks in certain settings. Mask use in public indoor settings is no longer required except when working in or visiting any continuing care facility, as well as any facility operated by AHS, Covenant or their contracted service providers.

Are we on the right track?

Many experts believe we are rushing too fast. Reopening now is risky. Alberta’s reopening plan was drafted before the arrival of the Delta variant and fails to account for the potential impact of the highly contagious strain.

Pediatricians in Alberta have urged Premier Kenney to delay the removal of monitoring measures until 85 per cent of Albertans have been immunized, or until the COVID-19 pandemic has reached the less volatile endemic stage.

Rapid spread of the Delta variant in the U.K. should serve as a warning to Albertans. Some experts have predicted the Delta variant will become Alberta’s dominant strain and will contribute to a surge of cases in September.

Is Alberta’s premier concerned about the fourth wave?

Few days ago, the premier acknowledged the ongoing risk of exposure. He advised people to “use common sense and exercise personal responsibility” when enjoying their new freedoms.

The premier is reported to have said, “People will get infected. Some people will get sick. Regrettably, a few people likely will pass away, as has been the case forever with influenza, but we don’t shut down society to deal with that kind of limited and controllable risk. We manage the risk. The vaccines give us a superpower to manage it. Let’s embrace that.”

Canada’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Theresa Tam, has warned against opening too quickly. Protests have been staged at government buildings in Calgary and Edmonton. Many Alberta doctors are reacting with surprise and disappointment to the province’s plan to relax its COVID-19 surveillance and management system.

Canada’s aim is to see as many eligible Canadians vaccinated this summer as possible. As of August 6, 80 per cent of those eligible have received a first dose, while 65 per cent of those eligible are now fully vaccinated. As of August 10, 76 per cent of Albertans 12+ have received one dose of the vaccine and 67 per cent of Albertans 12+ are fully vaccinated. Hope is to get 90 per cent of Canadians fully vaccinated.

I think people should continue to be careful as they increase their social and sporting activates. There are many adults and children who are not vaccinated. Hopefully, by next month we will have 90 per cent of Albertans and Canadians in the rest of the country will be fully vaccinated.

Better be safe than sorry!

Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99!