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Chilliwack council urges holdouts ‘to do the right thing’ and get vaccinated

Provincial Health Officer made it clear getting vaccinated is part of getting back to normal
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Council is urging the unvaccinated to get vaccinated against COVID-19. (Screenshot/City of Chilliwack)

Chilliwack city council is taking the opportunity to thank everyone so far who made a point of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

At the same time, Council is urging holdouts who may be on the fence to go ahead and get the vaccine since the Provincial Health Officer has made it clear it will be part of B.C. getting back to normal.

“If you haven’t had the chance to get vaccinated yet, council urges you to do the right thing,” said Coun. Sue Knott. “People need to take this way more seriously. If you’ve been sitting on the fence, now is the time to do it.”

Knott said her role at Chilliwack Hospice Society has perhaps put her in closer contact with local families who’ve lost loved ones to COVID-19, some of whom are feeling “so sorry” they didn’t make a point of getting the shots.

Strict restrictions were imposed by health officials on the unvaccinated attending social and organized gatherings in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Harrison, Hope, and Mission, as well as all smaller communities in the Fraser East health delivery area, in late September.

Dr. Bonny Henry said at the time the rules were being imposed because unvaccinated COVID patients were putting strains on local hospitals, including a recent outbreak at the Chilliwack facility.

Coun. Bud Mercer said it is a good time now to remind everyone that “we are in this together,” and that “everyone has a role” in reducing the risk and the spread of COVID.

“Getting the vaccine protects you, your family, friends and neighbours” against COVID-19, he underlined.

For him personally, he had no problem getting immunized when he was younger against polio, mumps and measles with vaccines of the day. The city councillor stressed he also wears a seatbelt and if he smoked, he would not do it in a playground.

“There’s nothing new here,” Mercer said. And while he understands that everyone wants to get back to normal as soon as possible, it needs to be done safely, and the Provincial Health Officer has made it clear that getting vaccinated is part of that process.

From October 25-31, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 64.4 per cent of cases in B.C., and from October 18-31, they accounted for 72.4 per cent of hospitalizations.

Special regional health orders remain in place for Chilliwack and the Eastern Fraser Valley. But even once those are lifted, it will still be important for everyone to follow provincial health orders and get vaccinated if they are able to.

RELATED: Mayors of EFV band together to urge vaccination

RELATED: Eastern Fraser Valley restrictions meant to encourage vaccination

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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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