Over 100 Doctors Urge Public To Get Vaccinated
More than one hundred local physicians have now signed an open letter urging the public to get vaccinated.
“The open letter, sent last week, now has 102 signatures with the aim of showing unity amongst the island’s medical community and galvanizing Bermuda’s residents to take an active role in fighting Covid-19 after active cases reached their peak this September,” a spokesperson said.
“The physicians all agree that, when it comes to preventing the spread of this disease, vaccination is top of the list – before measures such as handwashing, social distancing and mask-wearing, which they also continue to recommend.”
Dr. Annie Pinto, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist said: “We have rallied together because we believe that there truly is strength in numbers. It is painful for us to say many of these deaths, these devastating losses, were entirely preventable and unnecessary. And it is both disheartening and frightening to see unvaccinated young, otherwise healthy people get really ill. Only as more members of our community get vaccinated, will we have a real chance at beating COVID-19 and getting ourselves through this pandemic.”
Bermudian GP, Dr. Laura Murphy, said: “We know there are many of you who are still uncomfortable about getting the shot, its safety, and its long-term effects – and to those we say, please talk to us. We will tell you that the vaccine is not only safe, but highly effective. We all had the vaccine, and our families have as well. While there is risk in any and everything, these vaccines are safe, with few side effects. They are the most monitored vaccine in history.
“Without the vaccine, you are much more likely to become ill and die or suffer severe, long-term consequences from infection than you are to experience side effects. Furthermore, getting it reduces the risk of new variants penetrating our community.”
Dr. Murphy added: “Whatever your reason for hesitation, we urge you to speak to your doctor. This outbreak has claimed another 28 lives in September alone. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. Vaccines save lives.”
“To learn more, visit the Ministry of Health’s vaccine clinic at The Hamilton Princess on Sunday, October 4, from 10 am to 3 pm. Dr. Hannah Murray and pediatrician, Dr. Sylvanus Nawab, will be on site to answer any questions,” a spokesperson said. “Those wishing to get the shot can register online at www.gov.bm/vaccines, email vaccines@gov.bm or call the Hotline on 444-2498. Walk-ins are also welcome.”
The island has now recorded a total of 62 Covid related deaths since the pandemic began in 2020. In the last release of test statistics, the Health Minister said, “Current data shows that nearly 90% of the coronavirus related deaths in Bermuda are among persons who are not vaccinated.”
As a note, since publication, two additional names were added.
Read the open letter in full here:
Dear Bermuda,
We are your healthcare workers. We are your physicians, nurses, dentists, therapists, counselors, technicians and frontline workers.
We are also your neighbors, your friends, and your relatives. We are your loved ones, and you are ours. We have worked, played, laughed and cried together. We all share the love for this beautiful island we all call Home, and the dream of a safe and COVID-free world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected all of our lives. Our hearts are breaking as we witness the fallout from the effects of the pandemic on our community. Our hearts and minds are heavy. We are tired, worried, scared, not only for ourselves, but for our patients, many of whom are facing the biggest challenge of their lives. We are holding the worry of those who are sick and the sorrow of those who have already lost a loved one. We have lost patients we have treated for decades, who had shared with us not only their medical issues but the details that make up the fabric of their lives. We have seen our patients’ excitement as they discuss their upcoming wedding day, the birth of their first child and seeing that child graduate university. And in the past 18 months, we have lost 45 of those patients who we came to know and love. We have had to break the news to their families that they’ve lost a beloved mother, father, sister, brother or child. We are all someone’s child. And we don’t want to have to hold anyone else as they weep for their loss.
We carry the worry, not only for our acute COVID-19 patients, but for all the patients with any other existing health issues, whose care has been delayed due to this pandemic.
You trust us with your lives and the lives of your loved ones every day – for which we are honoured and thankful. Using that same trust, please, get vaccinated. We ask this from the bottom of our hearts. We ask this with all the earnestness we have from dedicating our lives to keeping you safe and well to the best of our abilities.
We are tired, but we will never stop working. Through burnout, through our own sorrow, we will never stop working for you. But the work would be more manageable to us and less taxing on the system if we can prevent too many people from getting seriously ill. And we can.
We have studied the available data. We have seen the benefits of vaccination with our own eyes. The COVID-19 vaccines are well tested, and highly effective in preventing deadly disease. The risks of vaccination are significantly lower than the risk posed by getting ill from COVID-19. It is the best tool we have to survive this pandemic, not only as individuals but as a community.
And yes, continue masking, and social distancing, even if you are vaccinated. The Delta variant is highly contagious.
If you develop any symptoms, please isolate yourself, stay at home and contact your GP. Avoid going to our overwhelmed emergency room, unless you are in a life-threatening situation.
You have trusted us with every aspect of your health. Please, trust us with this as well. We are not asking you to do anything that we ourselves have not already done. For your sake and for the sake of us all, please get vaccinated.
Signed,
- Dr. Annie Pinto
- Dr. Wendy M Woods
- Dr. Andrew West
- Dr. Joseph Froncioni
- Dr. Jennifer Barth
- Dr. Annabel Carter
- Dr. Burton Butterfield
- Dr. Jonathan Power
- Dr. Kristen Woodward
- Dr. Nicola Terceira
- Dr. Benjamin Lau
- Dr. Laura Murphy
- Dr. Stephen Kenny
- Dr. Sylvanus Nawab
- Dr. Sophie Mathew
- Dr. Hannah Murray
- Dr. Edgar Griffith
- Dr. Kathryn Suter
- Dr. Cathryn Siddle
- Dr. Elaine Campbell
- Dr. Ruth Macdonald
- Dr. Milan Oleksak
- Dr. Joanna Sherratt-Wyer
- Dr. Michael Urdang
- Dr. Mahesh Reddy
- Dr. Jeffrey MacLeod
- Dr. JJ Soares
- Dr. Conor Ryan
- Dr. Shaina Kelly
- Dr. William Peckett
- Dr. Catherine Wakely
- Dr. Ranjini Patton
- Dr. Chris Fosker
- Dr. Sharon Alikani
- Dr. Mike Czerwinski
- Dr. Emma Robinson
- Dr. Suriya Barclay
- Dr. Louise White
- Dr. Constance Richards
- Dr. Patrick Murray
- Dr. Gordon Campbell
- Dr. Kim Foley
- Dr. Ramon Arscott
- Dr. Sarah Winstanley
- Dr. Wilbert Warner
- Dr. Maureen Burke
- Dr. Hayley Morton
- Dr. Sam DeCouto
- Dr. Chikezie Dean Okereke
- Dr. Joanne Lysack
- Dr. Ryan Bates
- Dr. Diane Kooiman
- Dr. Fiona Ross
- Dr. Ewart Brown
- Dr. George G. Shaw
- Dr. Andrea Curkova
- Dr. Alexander Romeo
- Dr. Eugene Outerbridge
- Dr. Margot Harvey
- Dr. Lynette E. Thomas
- Dr. Chantelle Simmons
- Dr. Marva V. Phillips-Williams
- Dr. Roslyn Bascombe-Adams
- Dr. Brenda Davidson
- Dr. Duane D. H. Pit
- Dr. Heather Kettenis
- Dr. Amy Gutman
- Dr. Samantha Price
- Dr. Stephen West
- Dr. Jonathan Makanjuola
- Dr. Richard Fulton
- Dr. Matthew Arnold
- Dr. Richard Hammond
- Dr. Kerry Brislane
- Dr. James Cappadonna
- Dr. John Gaugain
- Dr. Alicia Morris
- Dr. Simon Morton
- Dr. Andrew Spence
- Dr. Charles Swart
- Dr. Ayoola O. Oyinloye
- Dr. Anna Nielsen-Williams
- Dr. Danielle Simons
- Dr. David Wakeley
- Dr. Monica Hoefert
- Dr. Boris Vestweber
- Dr. Carla Reese
- Dr. Michael Ashton
- Dr. Annabel Fountain
- Dr. Phillip Bell
- Dr. Gordon Kooiman
- Dr. Basil Wilson
- Dr. Gerard Boonstra
- Dr. Cheryl Peek-Ball
- Dr. Brent Williams
- Dr. Christiane Lippeck
- Dr. Deborah Daly
- Dr. Akbar Lightbourne
- Dr. Shane Marshall
- Dr. Peter Maclellan
- Dr. Heather Montgomery
- Dr. Mandisa Robinson
- Dr. Terry-Lynne Emery
You can find more information on the links below from our dedicated website BermudaCovid.com, which is the most comprehensive resource and historic record available of Bermuda’s handling of the pandemic.
- All Charts: Vaccine, testing & more here
- Timelines: Dates of major developments here
- Test results: Chart of testing stats here
- Vaccine: Data covering vaccinations here
- Dedicated website: BermudaCovid.com
A powerful message without doubt.
I just wonder how many of these 100 Doctor’s would also support having a Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Injection Clinics set up in Bermuda, to help fight the Covid19 Pandemic, and go a step further and see how many of the same 100 Doctors even have a clue of the importance of these Clinics and why they are so desperately needed.
It’s amazing they can come out and support the vaccines without any mention of any other treatments that is being used in the Medical World and Winning the War Against this Covid19 Disease, or are they in Bed with this Government in helping to mislead the general public as if the vaccines are the only recognized solutions.
Strange how The Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Injections have been given The Full FDA Approval and long before the vaccines which are still yet to get full FDA approval.
To the public: if like me, you may need to read up on this Monoclonal treatment for clarity and understanding. Please see the link. https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/monoclonal-antibodies-infusion-therapy-covid-19/
To Duane P. Santucci: let’s be sensible here. Your comment, “ are they in Bed with this Government in helping to mislead the general public as if the vaccines are the only recognized solutions” is FLAWED!! Please recognize the difference between the vaccine and this treatment you speak of. The vaccine is preventative treatment which can stop the impact of disastrous impact of new and more dangerous variants; whereas, Monoclonal treatment is a reactionary treatment and used once a patient has COVID-19.
In my estimation, it would be good to offer such a treatment for those diagnosed with COVID-19, as well.
Why don’t you set them up?
Dear Mr. Santucci,
I know the medical qualifications of many of the doctors named above. Please will you set out where you obtained your medical science education and your relevant qualifications so that we can better understand your comments.
As for monoclonal antibody infusion therapy, it only received “emergency use” approval (NOT “Full FDA Approval”) from the FDA last November. See https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-monoclonal-antibodies-treatment-covid-19.
Why do you believe that monoclonal antibody infusion therapy is not being used in people in Bermuda who test positive for COVID-19.
By the way, monoclonal antibody infusion therapy is appropriate for people who acquire COVID-19, according to the FDA. The purpose of a vaccine is to prevent a person from acquiring COVID-19. The different treatments appear to have different purposes. Your comment does not address that issue.
And your comment is equally flawed as from what I understand the vaccine / shot does not prevent “a person from acquiring Covid-19″.
Obtuse and disingenuous. The vaccine significantly reduces the chance of catching COViD-19, and if you do, significantly reduces the chances of serious illness and transmission.
But you know all of that.
I did not say that the vaccine would *prevent “a person from acquiring Covid-19″*.
I said “The purpose of a vaccine is to prevent a person from acquiring COVID-19″. The purpose of something and the effect of something are not always the same.
For example, the purpose of publications such as Bernews is to disseminate facts, verified facts. But the allowing of comments permits the dissemination of conspiracy theories and unjustified criticism.
As I said, he purpose of something and the effect of something are not always the same.
Ok ok enough already / all you unvaccinated bunch simply withdraw to Ports Island and set up your mono clinic and ride out this national disaster without the assistance of the 100 doctors and those at KEMH….
Good luck
I think you would find most doctors are not opposed to monoclonal antibodies, nor any other treatments, however the point you are missing is that the vaccines are preventative whereas the antibodies are used once the patient is already sick. Why would one want to go through the significant challenges associated with COVID when the vaccine has shown it an prevent the most challenging symptoms?
I believe this letter and endorsement from this large body of medical professionals speaks volumes.
It’s a big conspiracy, everyone is in on it, keep fighting for the truth.
Prick.
You can be reactive, or you can be proactive. You can treat an infection, or you can prevent an infection altogether.
Stopping the spread in the first place is more impactful than trying to mitigate the potentially disasterous effects of COVID-19 after it has invaded the body and caused damage.
There is quite a bit of misinformation in your post about FDA approvals. The vaccines are approved and safe. They are not a treatment, but an effective protective solution at our disposal.
“Strange how The Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Injections have been given The Full FDA Approval and long before the vaccines which are still yet to get full FDA approval.”
Duane, you’re not worried that they are only for emergency authorization use (EUA) like the vaccine used to be? I seem to recall you railing against EUA as it hadn’t been fully approved.
Also, the vaccines do have full FDA approval for people 16 and above.
You need to come correct when making your statements instead of spreading misinformation.
Are all of these doctors vaccinated?
Yes, according to their own statement printed above!
They lost me at “We have worked, played, laughed and cried together.”
Hello… In the letter above (not the news article), the letter that they all signed…. Where does it specifically say, “I am fully vaccinated and my family is fully vaccinated, including my children, because I believe the vaccine is completely safe.”
I don’t think 1/2 the doctors above would sign my letter to the public. Even an unvaccinated doctor could sign a letter like the one above.
The only commitment they make is” Please, trust us with this as well. We are not asking you to do anything that we ourselves have not already done.“
This is worded very, very, very carefully.
How is the vaccination status of the doctors relevant please?
Because maybe it has something to do with that ‘do as I say , not as I do’ thing ?
If my GP was advising me to get vaxed and he wasn’t I’d be curious too .
You are being sarcastic, right?
I am not being sarcastic.
Vaccines are not appropriate for everyone.
Even if the vaccine was not appropraite for me, I would still encourage my family to get vaccinated. Would the fact that the vaccine was not appropriate for me nullify my opinion?
That seems to be what Kathy is saying.
Great question!!
Good day! I was so moved by your heartfelt message, it encouraged me to research monoclonal antibodies on the web.
You may be way more up on them than I am, and stand to be corrected!
I read one make is FDA approved. The others are still for experimental use.
They are used in early stage covid infection. Not for prevention of the coronavirus disease.
I am so thankful for the vaccines, and my family got ours as soon as we could.
The monoclonal antibodies, from what I read, are far harder to administer than the vaccine. And timing is important with them. We have read that some people are dying before they can get to the hospital and even have a chance to receive the monoclonal antibodies.
It makes me sad for the grieving families and nurses, doctors, and all hospital staff who are overwhelmed.
Thank you.
Let’s point out that just over half of the Doctors on island singned this letter . There are about 183 doctors here . clearly they don’t all agree . But of course you don’t want to talk about that. Leftists!
many doctors against the JAB as well….stop pushing the vaccine….if people wish to get it they will. IT IS THEIR DECISION!!!!!!
How many people have to die needlessly, or this an ok price to pay?
And it’s not their decision, because it affects everyone. We all have an interest in their decision.
Forget decisions. The conspiracy theorists will survive.
But the vaccine is not appropriate for everyone. Why should people be punished for their body chemistry?
Yes, it is their decision. However, what seems to be overlooked is the fact that if they make that decision, they may get extremely ill, they may even die. So if their decision is to not get vaccinated, that is fine, then their decision should also be to not rock on up to the hospital and receive treatment for something that could have been far less serious and even, maybe, preventable.
People need to realize we have a VERY unhealthy population with rampant obesity, diabetes, heart disease…most of which are also preventable however, people make the decision to eat a bunch of crap and not exercise. These are the same people who are most at risk of severe COVID.
ALL decisions come with consequences.
72 Bermudians dead, that we know of – 5 million worldwide – let that sit with you for a minute …
Sometimes I swear I’m living in DeSantiisville…
72 COVID-19 related deaths in Bermuda since March 2020, 39 (54%) of them this month (September 2021), mostly as a result of community transmission.
We are doing this to ourselves people! Pay attention!
Is it possible that some people who do not want to be vaccinated were prescribed medications by some of the people listed above that gives them pause?
Some people get great medical treatment while others who may not be knowledgeable or connected to knowledgeable people are given medication almost like they are lab rats.
So many people have stories about drugs they were prescribed for one thing while making something else worse.
It’s great that over half of the island’s doctors are recommending the vaccine but these are the same people handing out prescriptions and sick notes sometimes with just a” fare thee well” so I understand the ambivalence because doctors are not perfect and just 19 months ago no one had an answer.
While we’re making lists, let’s list FDA approved drugs that have been recalled and how long it took for anyone to know they were problematic. Then let’s talk about how many of the hundred people above prescribed any of them to their patients in the past. Proceed with caution.
You are being sarcastic, right?
Or let’s list the $4,000,000,000 in fines Pfizer has paid since 2000 for misinformation, health related offences, safety related offences, government contracting related offenses, off label or unapproved promotion of medical devices, False Claims Act offences, drug or medical equipment safety violations, and foreign corrupt medical practices violatioms to name a few.
With all these folks sadly dying some folks still out their all about themselves they are embarrassments to humanity and a joke to this island advice get educated and vaccinated and have some respect