Canada’s Health Minister is disappointed in an online petition that she says is spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Over 25,000 people signed it demanding “citizen vaccine safety advocates” be allowed to review vaccine applications. The petition, which is backed by Conservative MP Derek Sloan, also compares vaccine trials to “human experimentation”.
Minister Patty Hajdu is criticizing him for sponsoring the petition. She calls it “extremely fear-driven”.
“It’s unfortunate to see politicians utilize their power to provide misinformation to Canadians, when what Canadians need is clear, concise, science-based evidence,” she says.
“Vaccine hesitancy is real, and certainly I would hope that elected officials would not contribute to peoples’ fear of science-based public health advice and guidance,” Hadju adds.
Hajdu emphasizes that health regulators and experts are in charge of decisions about vaccines and other health measures around the coronavirus.
