Sample Template Parents and Legal Guardians Can Send to School Principals About COVID-19 and Other Vaccines

 

Author: Tracey Young. (Sept. 18, 2021). Sample Template Parents and Legal Guardians Can Send to School Principals About COVID-19 and Other Vaccines. Advocacy BC. Retrieved from: https://advocacybc.blogspot.com/2021/09/sample-template-parents-and-legal.html

Introduction

For background on why I have created this sample Template that parents and legal guardians' can copy and paste and send to school principals and vice principals of their childrens' schools via email, fax, mail, or drop off please see the following article: 

Changes to 'Mature Minor Consent' in BC: Kids Under 12 might be asked to consent to COVID-19 vaccines. Advocacy BC. Retrieved from: https://advocacybc.blogspot.com/2021/09/changes-to-mature-minor-consent-in-bc.html.

Sample Template Parents and Legal Guardians Can Send to School Principals About COVID-19 and Other Vaccines

How To Send This Formal Correspondence

• Send this correspondence, dated and signed, to the attention of the school principal and vice principal at your child/ren’s school, in the following ways so that you have documentary evidence this was sent: 

1. By email with a Read Receipt (if possible).

2. By fax and keep the Transmission sheet confirming it was sent. 

3. Send by mail, by Registered Mail, or courier 

4. Request a written confirmation and response from the recipient. 

Communicate the following to the school administrators

Date

Attention: Name of Principal and Vice Principal, School Name

Re: COVID-19 Vaccines and Other Immunizations at School/On School Property

I am the Parent and Legal Guardian of [insert your child/ren’s names] who attends [insert school name] in the [insert name] School District.

I am sending you this formal written notice and communication so that we are all clear on my expectations as the Parent and Legal Guardian who is sending my children to school where they are under your care under the School Act.

Legal Guardianship of Minors in B.C.

The B.C. government says this on their website: "A guardian is responsible for their child’s care and upbringing. Only a guardian may have parental responsibilities and parenting time."

Parental responsibilities

Parental responsibilities are the responsibilities guardians have when raising a child, including:

• Daily decisions made when you are caring for the child
• Important decisions like those related to education, religion, and medical treatment
• Receiving information (including about health and education) about the child from others, and
• Protecting the child’s legal and financial interests

BC’s Child Protection Legislation, the Child, Family, and Community Services Act (CFCSA) states the following:

Part 1 — Introductory Provisions

Sec. 1, Definitions and interpretation

"child" means a person under 19 years of age and includes a youth;

"custody" includes care and guardianship of a child;

"guardianship" includes all the rights, duties and responsibilities of a parent;

"health care" means anything that is done for a therapeutic, preventive, palliative, diagnostic, cosmetic or other health related purpose, and includes a course of health care;

Sec. 2, Guiding principles

2  This Act must be interpreted and administered so that the safety and well-being of children are the paramount considerations and in accordance with the following principles:

(a)children are entitled to be protected from abuse, neglect and harm or threat of harm;

(b)a family is the preferred environment for the care and upbringing of children and the responsibility for the protection of children rests primarily with the parents;

(b.1)Indigenous families and Indigenous communities share responsibility for the upbringing and well-being of Indigenous children;

Sec. 4, Best interests of child (excerpt)

4 (1)Where there is a reference in this Act to the best interests of a child, all relevant factors must be considered in determining the child's best interests, including for example:

(a)the child's safety;

(b)the child's physical and emotional needs and level of development;

(d)the quality of the relationship the child has with a parent or other person and the effect of maintaining that relationship;

 

Sources: Government of B.C. (1996). Child, Family, and Community Services Act (CFCSA). Retrieved from: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/00_96046_01.

Government of B.C. What Does It Mean to Be a Guardian. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice/family-law/parenting-apart/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-guardian.

As the Parent and Legal Guardian of My Child I Do Not Consent to My Child Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines and Other Immunizations At School Without My Explicit Consent, or Knowledge

1. I do not consent to [insert your child/ren’s names] speaking with any employees from the Health Authority, or any other organizations, about immunizations, including COVID-19 vaccines without me, or another adult I formally designate to be present for these discussions.

2. I do not consent to [insert your child/ren’s names] receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, or any other immunization from any Health Authority, or any other individual, while they are at school, and on school property. My children attend school to learn, receive an education, and participate in school-based activities and community. I do not send my children to school to receive health care. Those are clear boundaries that must be respected and honoured since they arise out of my Legal Guardianship role of my child/children under the laws of B.C.

3. Failure to follow and respect my Explicit Non-consent, as is my legal right as the Parent and Legal Guardian of [insert your child/ren’s names], may, or could result in possible legal action, which could include a civil action, or class action against you, the principal and/or other administrators of this school; the school district; and/or others who may have been parties to administering medical and health interventions to my child/children without my explicit consent, or knowledge and/or against my explicit non-consent for medical/health care treatment of my child.

4. If my child/children were to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or any other immunization at school without my explicit consent, or knowledge, this may, or could result in the filing of criminal charges against the parties who were involved in facilitating these unauthorized health and medical treatments of my minor child.

5. Based on scientific evidence that governments around the world are reporting about Adverse Health reactions and other research about COVID-19 vaccines, including the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Canadian government, as a Parent and Legal Guardian to [insert your child/ren’s names], I have determined that it is best to take precaution and eliminate the risk of [insert your child/ren’s names] experiencing an Adverse Health reaction from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. This risk could, or  may be higher than the risk of my child experiencing COVID-19. This Informed Consent risk-benefit-alternatives analysis and assessment and decision-making process is within my legal rights to determine as a parent and guardian. This is especially the case because COVID-19 vaccines remain in clinical trials and are experimental  and the full impacts on developmental and long-term outcomes are unknown at this time. 

[Note: You may add, or delete this part if it doesn't apply: My child has already had COVID-19 and recovered. The most-up-to-date scientific evidence indicates that my child now has natural immunity from COVID-19 and this is also transferred to exposure to other coronavirus strains. This is an important part of my Informed Consent risk-benefit analysis and assessment regarding my child receiving an experimental vaccine whose full developmental and long-term outcomes are unknown at this time after already having COVID-19]. 

My Informed Consent decision-making process is grounded in evidence-based science and the clinical opinions and expert testimony of many medical doctors and researchers around the world. As noted above, it is my legal right as the Parent and Legal Guardian of [insert your child/ren’s names] to make Informed Consent decisions regarding the health and medical treatments my child may receive. It is also my legal right to be informed and be provided with information about these matters from adults who might approach, or administer health and medical care and treatments to my child/ren in any setting, including their school. 

The Canadian COVID-19 Care Alliance (CCCA) has established an evidence-based scientific perspective on children and youth and COVID-19 vaccines, which I am in agreement with, which states the following: 

"There is no immediate threat from COVID-19 to children and young adults. Where our children are concerned it is necessary that we follow a precautionary principle."

The CCCA Guide for Children and COVID-19 vaccines can be found here: 

Link: https://www.canadiancovidcarealliance.org/media-resources/children-and-covid-19-vaccines-full-guide/

My Assessment of Informed Consent Capacity For My Child

Based on my knowledge and understanding of my child/children and their cognitive, developmental, mental and physical health and medical needs, and their age and stage of development, I have determined that [insert your child/ren’s names] does not have the legal capacity to make Informed Consent decisions about immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccines.

Furthermore, due to the ongoing experimental and clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, which will continue until at least 2020/2023, as a cautious, prudent, and concerned parent who believes in taking a precautionary approach to experimental health and medical treatments for my child, I am exercising my parental rights under the laws of B.C. to protect and safeguard [insert your child/ren’s names] from the still unknown long-term  safety, effectiveness, and Adverse health and developmental impacts on young people from taking the current COVID-19 vaccines, and any vaccines that may be approved in the future. 

I expect this communication to be brought to the attention of [insert your child/ren’s names]’s teacher(s), and any other school district employees who work with my child. I also expect this communication to be well documented within the school environment, including having this correspondence placed on my child’s personal file at the school, and wherever health and medical, and other parental/guardian consents are kept at the school. 

If you would like to discuss this with me further, my contact information is below. I trust that we are now clear on what my perspective and standpoint is as the Parent and Legal Guardian of [insert your child/ren’s names] regarding COVID-19 vaccines, and other immunizations. 

Sincerely,

Parent/Guardian Name 

[Provide contact information]

___________________________________________

Note 1: Save and keep electronic and hard copies of all correspondence sent and received regarding vaccines, and other medical/health treatment discussions backed up. 

Note 2: If you have discussions with the principal, teacher, or others, consider recording these calls and ensure you save and keep copies of the audio files from these conversations. 

Note 3: Most parents/guardians may want to just stop above this line. However, for those parents/guardians who want to go a bit further, you may want to add the following requests.

I am requesting the following information from you as Principal for my child’s school as this will help inform me about the specific risks of illness my child may be facing at school:

• The numbers of children who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in each school year, 2020 and 2021 at this school.

• The numbers of teachers and other education staff who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in each year, 2020 and 2021 at this school.

• The numbers of teachers and other education staff at this school who have had WorkSafeBC claims accepted for workplace infectious disease claims.

• The numbers of teachers and other education staff at this school who have been on medical leave, or had WorkSafeBC claims accepted for Adverse Health reactions after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. 

Note 4: The sample template is not copyrighted and may be used, adapted, and shared. 

Copyright © 2021.Tracey Young/Advocacy BC. All Rights Reserved.

__________________________________________________

#BC #bced #bcpoli #bckids #bcfamilies #COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #AdverseHealthEvents #Canada #cdnpoli #DutytoWarn #InformedConsent #NurembergCode #Bioethics #Ethics

Changes to 'Mature Minor Consent' in BC: Kids under 12 might be asked to consent to COVID-19 vaccines

 

Author: Tracey Young. (Sept. 18, 2021). Changes to 'Mature Minor Consent' in BC: Kids Under 12 might be asked to consent to COVID-19 vaccines. Advocacy BC. Retrieved from: https://advocacybc.blogspot.com/2021/09/changes-to-mature-minor-consent-in-bc.html

In this article, I will present the following:

■ Parents' Legal Rights and Duties as Legal Guardians to their Minor Children

■ What is Informed Consent for health care decisions and medical treatments

■ What is Consent under the Infants Act of B.C.: Medical Treatment, Sec. 17, Consent of infant to medical treatment

■ The Infants Act, Mature Minor Consent and Immunization from the B.C. Government

■ Changes the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has made to their 'Communicable Disease Control Manual' policy, and process for what is required for "Mature Minor Consent" to give children COVID-19 vaccines

■ Suggestions for advocacy for parents and others who would like to bring awareness of these changes and the potential impacts for kids, parents, and others, including a link to a template parents and legal guardians can send to the principal and vice principal of their childrens' school about immunizations

■ BC and Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Health Reaction Statistics Update, to September 17, 2021

Introduction

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has made changes to their 'Communicable Disease Control Manual,' policy, and process for what is required for "Mature Minor Consent" to give children under the age of 12 the ability to provide "Consent" to taking COVID-19 vaccines. The procedural and process changes includes removing an important "check and balance" in the form of consultation with senior managers and risk consultants' about whether a young person can legally provide Mature Minor Consent to take a vaccine without their parents'/legal guardians' knowledge, or consent. This gives discretion, authority, and power to community health care workers, who are strangers and lack knowledge about kids' health histories, to assess and approve young peoples' capacity to provide consent for immunizations at school, or elsewhere. 

I have received reports from different areas of B.C. that vaccine clinics have already been taking place where health authority employees have been sent into schools. Once on school property, they have been speaking with children and youth about vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines may have been administered at school to minors in the 12-17 age group without their parental/legal guardians' knowledge, or consent. 

Parents' Legal Rights and Duties as Legal Guardians to their Minor Children

The B.C. government says this on their website: "A guardian is responsible for their child’s care and upbringing. Only a guardian may have parental responsibilities and parenting time."

Parental responsibilities

Parental responsibilities are the responsibilities guardians have when raising a child, including:

• Daily decisions made when you are caring for the child
• Important decisions like those related to education, religion, and medical treatment
• Receiving information (including about health and education) about the child from others, and
• Protecting the child’s legal and financial interests

➤ Parents' Legal Rights as Guardians: Parents and legal guardians have a fundamental right and need to be aware of what medical and health care, medical procedures and treatments, and substances their minor children are receiving from the state. Immunizations fall into this category as vaccines are administered primarily by Health Authority employees (Ie. "the state").  

➤ Parents' Legal Duty of Care to their children: Family and child protection laws in B.C. are clear that parents and legal guardians have a legal duty of care and obligation to protect and safeguard their minor children's physical and psychological health, safety, and well-being. 

• It is my analysis as a former child protection worker that parents' legal duty of care and legal guardianship of their children is being undermined, compromised, and subverted by the state -- in this situation this is the BC Centre for Disease Control, the B.C. government, and the Health Authorities in B.C. regarding vaccines and immunization. 

• If children are determined by a stranger to be capable of giving consent to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (or any others) and they experience an adverse health reaction parents have a legal duty of care and right to know what medical care, medical procedures, and substances their minor children have received from those who administered it, as well as all of the other details regarding the process undertaken by the individuals who assessed and determined capacity for consent. 

➤ Parents' and guardians know their children and their health histories best: They are in the best position to make health care consent decisions on behalf of their minor children where the state and experimental vaccines are concerned. Parents will also be the ones' who will be put in the position of having to ensure their children receive health care, and make decisions about that as legal guardians in the event their child suffers an Adverse health reaction post-vaccine. 

➤ Adverse Health Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines: Based on the statistical data and research that is available regarding the Adverse Health Reactions (AHR's) being experienced by recipients of these experimental immunizations, particularly for young people, it is my analysis that Canadians have not been able to provide true Informed Consent prior to taking COVID-19 vaccines. See below for the most recent AHR statistics from the Canadian government to have a snapshot of the how serious the situation is. 

Figure 3. # of Adverse Event Reports by Age and Sex, up to and including Sept. 3, 2021 (n=14,702)

      

Sources: Government of B.C. What Does It Mean to Be a Guardian. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/divorce/family-justice/family-law/parenting-apart/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-guardian.

Government of Canada. Reported side effects following COVID-19 vaccination in Canada, up to Sept. 3rd, 2021. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/vaccine-safety/. 

Informed Consent

Informed Consent requires the following: 

➤ Having the benefits, risks, and alternatives for a specific medical/health intervention explained in detail PRIOR to this intervention being administered

➤ Having the nature of the treatment (Ie. vaccine), what it is supposed to do 

➤ Have a very clear explanation of what potential side effects and risks are associated with the substance

➤ Receive information about the known Adverse Health reactions and side effects people who have received the treatment have experienced as part of the risk-benefit decision-making process 

➤ Example: In the United Kingdom (UK), the Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI), the UK vaccine regulatory body, has decided that the benefits of the vaccine for the age group 12-15 is so small, it does not outweigh the known risks of kids in this age group after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. See National Health Service (NHS) advice on who is approved to receive COVID-19 vaccines here in the UK.

This article takes a deep dive into Informed Consent. It is a must-read for parents and others:

Advocacy and Informed Consent for Health Interventions: Masks, Temperature Screening, Hand Sanitizer, COVID19 Swabbing, Testing and Vaccines

Link: https://canadianadvocacycentre.blogspot.com/2020/11/advocacy-and-informed-consent-for.html

Infants Act of BC: Health Care and Medical Treatment Consent

• The Infants Act explains the legal position of children under 19 years of age.

• One of the topics covered in the Infants Act is the health care of children. The Infants Act states that children may consent to a medical treatment on their own as long as the health care provider is sure that the treatment is in the child's best interest, and that the child understands the details of the treatment, including risks and benefits. It is up to the health care provider to assess and ensure the child's understanding of the treatment." (BC Government)

Source: BC Government. (2021). The Infants Act, Mature Minor Consent and Immunization. Retrieved from: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/infants-act-mature-minor-consent-and-immunization.

Infants Act:

Part 2 — Medical Treatment, Sec. 17, Consent of infant to medical treatment from the Infants Act

17   (1) In this section:

"health care" means anything that is done for a therapeutic, preventive, palliative, diagnostic, cosmetic or other health related purpose, and includes a course of health care;

"health care provider" includes a person licensed, certified or registered in British Columbia to provide health care.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), an infant may consent to health care whether or not that health care would, in the absence of consent, constitute a trespass to the infant's person, and if an infant provides that consent, the consent is effective and it is not necessary to obtain a consent to the health care from the infant's parent or guardian.

(3) A request for or consent, agreement or acquiescence to health care by an infant does not constitute consent to the health care for the purposes of subsection (2) unless the health care provider providing the health care

(a) has explained to the infant and has been satisfied that the infant understands the nature and consequences and the reasonably foreseeable benefits and risks of the health care, and

(b) has made reasonable efforts to determine and has concluded that the health care is in the infant's best interests.

Video: BCCDC: Mature Minor Informed Consent

Youtube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsnRHdT5ls0

Special note: In this video, the BCCDC states that the following steps are also part of the process involved in approaching "mature minors" to assess for consent for health and medical treatment decisions, such as immunization:

Health assessments  – Does the minor have any specific diagnosed, or suspected health issues, conditions, or use medications? If so, have they been assessed/are they being assessed? What medications have they been prescribed and what are they treating?

Eligibility  – Does the minor fit within the eligibility criteria for the proposed medical treatment?

Contraindication Determination  – Does the minor have any health issues, medications, or other risk factors that could create risk and impact how the minor might negatively react to the medical treatment?

Other Health Issues  – Is there a family history of reactions to similar treatments, or health conditions that might create risk and impact how the minor might negatively react to the medical treatment? Any recent, or historical adverse reactions to similar medical treatments (Ie. vaccines)? What happened? Has the young person ever experienced serious physical, or psychological trauma and injuries? Who is available to provide health care and support for the minor if they consent to receiving a medical treatment? 

Communicable Diseases and Immunization in B.C.

BCCDC states: "The purpose of the guidelines in the Communicable Disease Control Manual is to assist public health practitioners with decision-making about specific situations and support consistency of provincial public health practice."

BC Centre for Disease Control. Communicable Disease Manual. 

Link: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/communicable-disease-control-manual

Chapter 2: Immunization

Link: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/communicable-disease-control-manual/immunization

The Infants Act, Mature Minor Consent and Immunization

Link: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/infants-act-mature-minor-consent-and-immunization

What is “mature minor consent”?

A child under the age of 19 is called a “minor”. “Mature minor consent” is the consent a child gives to receive health care after the child has been assessed by a health care provider as having the necessary understanding to give the consent. A child who is assessed by a health care provider as being capable to give consent is called a "mature minor".

A child who is a mature minor may make their own health care decisions independent of their parents' or guardians' wishes. In B.C. there is no set age when a child is considered capable to give consent.

A health care provider can accept consent from the child and provide health care that is in the child's best interests without getting consent from the parent or guardian if the health care provider is sure that the child understands: (***See note below)

• The need for the health care
• What the health care involves and
• The benefits and risks of the health care

How does “mature minor consent” relate to immunization?

In B.C., immunizations for school aged children are given in grade 6 and grade 9 (and other grades if children are behind in immunization or at risk for certain vaccine-preventable diseases). Most of the time, the vaccines are given by nurses at immunization clinics held at schools. Children may also get vaccines at a health unit, youth clinic, doctor's office or pharmacy. In all of these settings, a child can consent to the vaccine on their own behalf if the health care provider has determined that the child is capable of making this decision.

Although there is no set age for when a child becomes capable, common practice is for parents or guardians of children in grade 6 to give consent for their child to be immunized. However, children in grade 9 and older are given the opportunity to consent for themselves. If a child refuses a vaccine for which their parent or guardian has consented, they must be informed of the risks of not having it.

The immunization records of any child who gives their own consent will not be shared with the parent or guardian, unless the child gives permission.

*** The B.C. government's explanation of what they consider to be "Consent" from a minor does not appear to be consistent with the legal requirements for Informed Consent. 

Immunization Consent Policy and Procedural Change 

From the BCCDC: Re: Update to Communicable Disease Control Manual, Chapter 2: Immunization, Appendix A – Informed Consent for Immunization (See letter below which communicates these changes)

Appendix A – Informed Consent for Immunization

Section 4. Step by Step Process for Obtaining Informed Consent, 4.1c) Mature Minors has been updated to remove the recommendation to consult with a Program Manager or Risk Management Consultant for further direction when obtaining mature minor consent for children 12 years of age and younger. This change has been made to remove any perceived barriers for such children who are deemed capable and wish to provide consent on their own behalf (i.e mature minor consent).

The COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in those 12 years of age and older, and is being offered to those who will be turning 12 years of age within the calendar year. The Infants Act, which explains the legal position of children under 19 years of age, indicates that there is no legal age of consent for health care in BC; instead, a minor’s ability to consent depends upon the minor’s level of maturity." 

BCCDC Letter Stating the Changes to Mature Minor Consent Process and Procedure

Advocacy Tips and Suggestions For parents and Others 

➤ These issues need to be shared with other parents, grandparents and concerned people to bring awareness of these changes and the potential impacts for kids, parents, and others. These are some of the things that can be done below. 

➤ Share this article with other concerned parents and adults to increase awareness of these issues and find ways to work together to protect and safeguard children and youth at school. 

➤ Read the Infants Act and the BCCDC Communicable Disease Manual to understand the situation kids in your life might be facing. See links above. 

➤ Talk openly and give your kids EXPLICIT direction and PRACTICE WORDS they can use to tell adults who bring up vaccines with them at school, or anywhere else how to respond. Things like: 

• "My parents and I make health decisions together." 

• "I think you/I should talk to my parents about vaccines." 

• "I feel uncomfortable discussing this topic with you. I would like to stop talking about this now." or "I would like to talk about something else." 

➤ Join with other parents and concerned adults to create a plan to address the issue of kids being approached at school, or elsewhere to take COVID-19 vaccines (or others)

➤ Consider speaking with a lawyer who specialized in Family Law who you can discuss the issue of the state administering health/medical treatments to your children without your consent, or knowledge. Find out what you can do to legally prevent this, and what to do if it happens anyways. 

➤ Send the template I have created for Parents and Legal Guardians to send to Principals, Vice Principals as administrators responsible for the health, safety and well-being of children and youth at school. Find the template here:

Sample Template Parents and Legal Guardians Can Send to School Principals About COVID-19 and Other Vaccines

Link: https://advocacybc.blogspot.com/2021/09/sample-template-parents-and-legal.html

BC and Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Health Reaction Statistics Update, to September 17, 2021

    

Copyright © 2021.Tracey Young/Advocacy BC. All Rights Reserved.

__________________________________________________

#BC #bced #bcpoli #bckids #bcfamilies #COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #AdverseHealthEvents #Canada #cdnpoli #DutytoWarn #InformedConsent #NurembergCode #Bioethics #Ethics

Biometric ID in BC: BCNDP Government Implements Social Credit System With the BC Vaccine Passport

 

BC Government: Where You Will Need Proof of Vaccination

Author: Tracey Young. (Sept. 8, 2021). Biometric ID in BC: BCNDP Government Implements Social Credit System With the BC Vaccine Passport. Advocacy BC. Retrieved from: https://advocacybc.blogspot.com/2021/09/biometric-id-in-bc-bcndp-government.html.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. I am a Public Interest Advocate. I have extensive training, clinical and professional practice experience supporting individuals in exercising their civil and human rights to Informed Consent, and accessing social justice in health care settings in B.C. 

In this article I present the following information:

■ Definitions of Biometric Identification (ID)

■ BC's Biometric ID: The BC Vaccine Card, aka "Proof of Vaccination" App & QR Code

■ Bioethical, Socio-Economic, and Social Justice Analysis

■ How BC's Biometric ID Will Work

■ Places the vaccine card will be required for entry in BC

■ Cybersecurity Threats from Biometric ID, Vaccine Apps and Potential Risk Mitigation Strategies (including some tips for parents to decrease potential risks and threats to their kids)

Introduction

On August 23rd, 2021, the BC government announced they were moving forward with their plan to implement a Biometric identification (ID) and social credit system in B.C. that is tied to peoples'  COVID-19 vaccine status. This is euphemistically being referred to as, "Proof of Vaccination" (POV) and the "BC Vaccine Card." These terms are code for Biometric ID. 

This creates a convergence, or fusion, of ones' biological, digital, and physiological identity, vaccination and social status. Vaccine passports create social credit, or status, based on ones' vaccination status. BC's system is building upon, and adopting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government's vaccine status and social credit systems of state control, coercion, and surveillance tied to biometric data and ID. Under the BCNDP government, the ability to participate in BC society will rely upon whether one is up-to-date with what the state tells citizens is their vaccination status. This formalizes governmental, institutional, and state definitions of who is considered an "insider," "desirable," or "worthy person," and who must be considered an "outsider," an "undesirable" or "unworthy" person in BC. 

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health under the BCNDP, and Justin Trudeau, former Prime Minister with the federal Liberal Party, have both advised citizens that boosters are already being considered. This is because there is already statistical data from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Canadian governments (as well as others') that COVID-19 vaccines do not work as intended for specific populations, such as the elderly, and those with immune-suppression. 

There are also strong indicators the vaccines wane within several months. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that "booster shots" have no scientific data to support them. However, some nations, most notably Israel, have already been administering third doses of COVID-19 vaccines. They are also already considering administering four doses in the first year that these experimental vaccines have been administered around the world. 

Trudeau has publicly stated he has ordered "booster" doses, or "second generation" vaccines up to 2024. People will be required to take the state-sponsored and required number of vaccines, which will change over time. If they do not take them, their status in their passport/Biometric ID will show they are "unvaccinated." Their social credit and status will change. They will be socially and physically banned and excluded from all of the settings the B.C. government has decided will require this proof. That list will grow as the months go by. 

What is Biometric Identification (ID)

• Biometrics is defined as: the measurement and analysis of unique physical or behavioral characteristics (such as fingerprint or voice patterns) especially as a means of verifying personal identity (Merriam-Webster).

• Biometrics are physical or behavioral human characteristics to that can be used to digitally identify a person to grant access to systems, devices or data (Korolov, 2019).

• Biometric identification (ID): Biometric identification consists of determining the identity of a person. The aim is to capture an item of biometric data from this person. It can be a photo of their face, a record of their voice, or an image of their fingerprint (Thales, 2021). 

• Biometric ID now includes COVID-19 vaccination status. Over time, this information will potentially increase to include other biomedical personal information, which will confer social status and credit, and the ability to access services, and participate in ones' community.  

Sources: 

Korolov, M. (2019. What is biometrics? 10 physical and behavioral identifiers that can be used for authentication. CSO. Retrieved from: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3339565/what-is-biometrics-and-why-collecting-biometric-data-is-risky.html.

Thales (2021). Biometrics: definition, use cases, and latest news. Retrieved from: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/government/inspired/biometrics

 

Proof of Vaccination ID & Biometric Vaccination Status in the BC Vaccine Card  

BC Biometric ID: "Proof of Vaccination" App & QR Code

BC Government: "Starting September 13, you need proof of vaccination to access some events, services and businesses. The easiest way to show proof is using the BC Vaccine Card."

Source: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard.html  

On Sept. 7th more details about the BCNDP & #BCgovernment's implementation of their Biometric ID and social credit system via the "BC Vaccine Card" were released. Details are provided below. The picture above is what your vaccine status will look like in the BC COVID-19 vaccine app.

Bioethical, Socio-Economic, and Social Justice Analysis

BC Vaccine Passport: "Proof of Vaccination" is the coercive collection, use, and forced disclosure of personal health information and biometric data via BC vaccine passports. This represents a substantive violation of health-related ethics, bioethics, civil and human rights, and a variety of provincial, federal, and international laws, including the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005). The background and mandate of this international declaration states: "At its 32nd session in October 2003, the General Conference considered that it was “opportune and desirable to set universal standards in the field of bioethics with due regard for human dignity and human rights and freedoms, in the spirit of cultural pluralism inherent in bioethics” (32 C/Res. 24).

• Social Exclusion, Marginalization and Barriers to Participating in Society: Many individuals and classes of people will be banned and further marginalized from participating in society through the BC government's implementation of their social credit system. The BCNDP government is increasing barriers, creating institutional barriers, and excluding more and more people who they have decided are "unworthy" of being included in their communities, and BC society. This includes: poor and soci-economically disadvantaged people; people who have no PHN, no smartphones, and no access to the internet. People with inaccurate, or wrong ID. Seniors who may not know how to use technology, or how to navigate complex systems to access their biometric ID. People with disabilities and health conditions which prevent them from getting COVID-19 vaccines, and people who object to getting these vaccines for religious reasons, or conscientious objections will all be considered to have no social status in BC.

• No "Do Over" - If/once you choose to download the BC Vaccine passport you will never again have autonomy, freedom, or liberty, or self-determination over your personal or health sovereignty. The state will own you, your biometric data, & your body forever. The state will also decide what health interventions you will be required to have in the future to maintain your social credit and status in BC (and later, in Canada). Once you give your own personal and health sovereignty, bodily autonomy and integrity away you will remain enslaved for the rest of your life, or you will become a non-status person.

• In the case of COVID-19 vaccines: If you do not keep getting boosters when your COVID-19 vaccine has "expired" you will no longer have social status, or "social credit." You will be considered "unvaccinated." This means you will be banned from accessing the settings the province has decided you will be excluded from. This list will grow over time. They're rolling out all of the plans incrementally.

• There are NO EXEMPTIONS: This includes no exemptions even if you/a loved one has medical, or religious reasons for not receiving a vaccine (now it's just COVID-19 ones, but new vaccines will roll out later that you will be required to take). This means if you had 1 dose and had a bad reaction, and can't get a second dose (or third, fourth, fifth...), you will be considered unvaccinated and banned from participating in society.

Adrian Dix: "A major B.C. media outlet referred to him as a “dour Stalinist” after he became NDP leader last April. “[Josef] Stalin was a mass murderer . a totalitarian leader of the 1930s,” he said, exasperated." (Todd, D. (2017). Vancouver Sun).

BC Definition of "Unvaccinated": "No dose or <3 weeks since receipt of 1st dose." 

Source: BCCDC. (2021). BCCDC Data Summary, Sept. 2, 2021. (Pg. 16). Retrieved from: http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID_sitrep/2021-09-02_Data_Summary.pdf

How BC's Biometric ID Will Work

➤ Downloading the App: To download the app you need your Personal Health Number (PHN); your date of birth; and the date of your 1st or 2nd vaccine dose. If you do not have a PHN, or smartphone, obviously you will be unable to use this app.

➤ After inputting your biometric data: You will receive a BC vaccine card with a QR code that shows how many doses of the vaccine you’ve received.

➤ You will need to show your QR code—either digital or paper—along with photo ID before entering specific events and settings.

➤ Businesses will use a phone app to verify customers’ vaccination statuses. This means BC businesses and other settings will now be collecting customers' Biometric & personal health information. Details about how, where, and what country/ies this data and information will be stored in, and whether third parties can access this data, and share it are not known at this time.

➤ Permissions and Informed Consent: If you are going to download the BC Biometric app, ensure you have carefully read the Permissions and Consents that are required. These should tell you how, where, what country and whether third party access to your biometric and personal health information will be used. Permissions should also tell you if third parties can also share your personal health/biometric data, and for what purposes.

➤ Exempted businesses and settings: Settings that have been designated as "Essential; "Fast food" restaurants, food courts, drive-thrus, and cafeterias are not included in the program.

Cybersecurity Threats from Biometric ID, Vaccine Apps and Potential Risk Mitigation Strategies

• IT Security and privacy experts have already reported that COVID-related apps are highly targeted for hacking and cybersecurity breaches by cyber-criminals. This is because the information contained in these apps is probably enough to steal a person's identity and commit other crimes in their name, specifically financial crimes.

• Protecting Your Biometric Data and Personal Information: Consider getting an IT security assessment of your phone, and existing permissions from other apps and the phone manufacturer.

• Additional Cybersecurity On Your Phone: Consider getting expert advice about adding additional layers of cybersecurity on your smartphone if you plan to download the app. Biometric ID and apps likely come with ongoing and chronic cybersecurity risks for you, and your personal health and biometric data.

• Unknown Risks and Threats to Children & Youth: Because all of this is being implemented so quickly, with many parts unknown, and so many kids have smartphones, it is unclear to me what steps parents will be able to take to protect and decrease risks and threats from predators and cyber-criminals who will try to access the biometric and personal health information of their kids.

• Suggestions for Parents: Not allow their kids to download the Biometric ID's onto their phones until more is known about the risks and threats. Ensure that parents are present and aware of the permissions and consents if the app is downloaded. Try to do an IT cybersecurity assessment and install cybersecurity protections on their kids' phones.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, March 31, 2020

Places your vaccine card is required for entry in BC

By order of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), proof of vaccination is required to access some events, services and businesses. Starting September 13, you must have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. By October 24, you must be fully vaccinated. The requirement is in place until January 31, 2022 and could be extended. 

The requirement applies to all people born in 2009 or earlier (12+) and covers:

• Indoor ticketed sporting events
• Indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events
• Licensed restaurants and restaurants that offer table service (indoor and patio dining)
• Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and patio dining)
• Nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres
• Gyms, exercise facilities/studios, pools and recreation facilities
• Businesses offering indoor group exercise
• Indoor adult group and team sports for people 22 years old or older
• Indoor organized events with 50 or more people. For example: Wedding receptions, organized parties, conferences and workshops
• Indoor organized group recreational classes and activities like pottery, art and choir
• Post-secondary on-campus student housing 

_____________________________________________

       

“There is going to be a vaccinated economy, and you get to participate in that if you are vaccinated...we are going to lock out people who are not vaccinated and can be.” ~ Premier Dan Andrews - Australia      

                  

                              

Source: Great Game India. (Sept. 7, 2021). Australia to lock out the unvaccinated people from its economy. Retrieved from: https://greatgameindia.com/australia-lock-out-unvaccinated-economy/.

                                  Morsa Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images

Copyright © 2021.Tracey Young/Advocacy BC. All Rights Reserved.

_____________________________________________

#COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #BC #bcpoli #Canada #cdnpoli #DutytoWarn #DoNoHarm  #InformedConsent #NurembergCode #Bioethics #Ethics