Thread by @ubccovidtracker

!! Thread:

@VCHhealthcare told UBC to discontinue its testing mandate, citing a preprint (ie NOT peer-reviewed or published) paper.

The paper's authors hold some *interesting* views, incl anti-mask, anti-vax/pro-natural immunity, pro-trucker convoy, 'covid = flu', etc…

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The tweets below were collected from a cursory review of their accounts — I'm sure there are more fun takes.

Link to the letter VCH sent to UBC: bit.ly/3tGkxNV

Link to the unpublished, non-peer-reviewed article VCH cited in its letter: bit.ly/3MKy6ov

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Author #1: Kevin Bardosh

- Believes natural immunity > vaccination

- Pro-trucker convoy (thinks it is a wholesome revolutionary movement that definitely does not promote white supremacists or Nazi flags)

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Author #2: Alex de Figueiredo

- Thinks masks ‘forced’ on children = ‘sad state of affairs’ and wearing masks = 'suffering'

- Anti-vaccination in children, thinks fear of risks of covid in kids = ‘invalid’

- Compares covid to the flu

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Author #3: Euzebiusz Jamrozik

- Also thinks covid = the flu

- Anti-mask + anti-vax for children

- Anti-mask mandate in general

- Thinks natural immunity > vaccination

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Author #3 cont:

Jamrozik also recently did a podcast (‘Pandemic Ethics: Is Public Health Out of Control?’) hosted by the Mises Institute – which SPLC categorized as a ‘Neo-Confederate’ group & WaPo cited as the source of Trump’s racialized rhetoric (fun take on CRT below!)

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Author #4: James Doidge

- Thinks risks of vaccinating children outweigh the benefits

- Believes natural immunity > vaccination

- Pro anti-vax mandate protest (by nurses)

- Enjoys Joe Rogan’s commentary on vaccine hesitancy

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In sum, it is pretty concerning that UBC's COVID safety policies are being dictated by @VCHhealthcare ie. the people who are using non peer-reviewed lit from those who spout anti-mask & anti-vax rhetoric (among other things) to guide their decisions.

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