The Government of Quebec wants the population to trust it, but it does not trust citizens, their representatives, or its own network in the distribution of vaccines against COVID-19.
He therefore came to the end of solutions and instead of turning to the outside, he turned to himself. And all he finds is a run-down, haphazard concept that, at best, distracts those around him from the real issues.
With respect to vaccination:
Doctors were never involved
Physicians are expected to vaccinate (among other things) against influenza, even during the pandemic. They are fully equipped to vaccinate, but they are forbidden tooth and nail to vaccinate against COVID. But why should doctors NOT be part of the solution?
They see their other patients wasting away due to the unvaccinated.
They heal the entire population, but especially the most vulnerable, who trust them even when they no longer trust anyone else. They are accustomed to individualizing the message regarding the risks associated with the disease and the need for vaccination.
People generally trust their doctors, but does the government trust the medical profession?
The CLSCs have never been arrested
Funds and resources formerly allocated to CLSCs have gradually been allocated elsewhere, but CLSCs are still present in many communities. People go there to get the vast majority of their shots, so it’s a habit.
CLSC staff wish nothing better than the end of the pandemic — why must they receive unvaccinated people for other services and remain totally powerless to protect them against today’s greatest enemy? Why does the government not trust its network of CLSCs?
Schools have been largely underused as distribution sites
Many vaccines are traditionally administered in schools.
How many children would receive the hepatitis B or HPV vaccine if these were not given in schools? Is there any surprise that parents do not carry out all vaccination logistics parallel to the system already in place?
Parents trust the government to give other vaccines right where kids usually learn — why not COVID vaccines?
Why doesn’t the government trust school nurses and schools more like it does other vaccines?
Vaccination sites are not nearby
For the Pontiac, for example, there is only one vaccination site for an area of nearly 15,000 km2. By way of comparison, the city of Gatineau has an area of 380 km2 and the island of Montreal, 431 km2.
The only vaccination site in the Pontiac is in Campbell’s Bay, while a good majority of the population of the Pontiac has never visited this village in their life.
In the Pontiac, as in many places, there is no public transport that could be put to use. Does the government want to approach the population, yes or no?
Municipalities and MRCs were not invited to participate in the effort
It is in the interest of all Quebecers that the population be vaccinated. Wouldn’t cities and MRCs have innovative ways of doing vaccination, for example in sports centres, libraries or municipal halls? Who knows better the habits of its population than the administration of a municipality?
Why does the government not trust municipalities and MRCs to contribute to the well-being of the population, especially in this exceptional situation?
Community organizations have not been leveraged in the collective effort
Many organizations deal with a disadvantaged population on a daily basis. These organizations are there for the health and well-being of citizens. The vulnerable population instinctively trusts what too often turns out to be their only level of social support. Why doesn’t the government trust community organizations to prevent COVID?
The contribution of patients, their representatives and the entire health network — including community organizations — could solve the problem of lack of access for the unvaccinated and contribute to vaccinating a significant portion of people who have more confidence in those close to them than to a hypercentralized and distant government. The current government needs to let go of its concept of control and it needs to decentralize the distribution of vaccines. His current approach is not helping him at all to achieve his goals or those of the population. He asked for our trust, in turn to grant us his.