by: mark sutcliffe
throughout the last 18 months, ottawa business owners have faced one tough decision after another. but here’s one that should be very straightforward: whether to require vaccines for employees and customers entering their premises.
business owners are leaders, not just of their organizations, but in the community. and no issue requires more leadership at this moment than ensuring the highest possible vaccination levels. for months, entrepreneurs and ceos have felt powerless as the pandemic has threatened lives and caused economic damage. now, finally, there’s something that all of us can do. the most effective way to accelerate the end of the pandemic is to require vaccinations where people work, shop, and do business.
despite the loud voices of a small number of anti-vaccine protesters, the data is conclusive. almost three-quarters of canadians over 12 years of age are now fully vaccinated, but 99 per cent of current cases of covid come from the remaining 25 per cent who are either unvaccinated or have had only one shot.
not only are vaccines working, but the early evidence suggests that measures to require them are also effective. since health officials in british columbia announced the creation of a vaccine card about a week ago, the number of people under 40 registering for their first dose tripled. quebec also saw a spike in first doses after announcing its own restrictions on unvaccinated residents. by comparison, while those increases were happening in other provinces, ontario’s rate of first doses remained flat.