Two Hills County Third Lowest Percentage of Vaccination Rates in Alberta

Two Hills County Third Lowest Percentage of Vaccination Rates in Alberta

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Two Hills County Reeve Don Gulayec said the municipality has the third lowest percentage of vaccination rates in Alberta.

According to the Government of Alberta’s COVID-19 statistics, 31.2 percent of the population, (1,742 people) are vaccinated.

The second lowest percentage is High Prairie at 34.9 percent of the population, (4,049 people) that are vaccinated. The lowest percentage is High Level at 14.5 percent of the population, (3,656 people) that are vaccinated.

Parts of the Province are divided into local geographic regions. Of those regions that are located in our circulation area, here are the statistics released by the Government of Alberta:

• Veg/Minburn County - 53.8 percent (5,972)

• Smoky Lake – 52.4 percent (2,477)

• Lamont County – 53.8 percent (3,439)

• Tofield – 52.7 percent (4,108)

• Viking – 56.8 percent (1,335)

As far as what impact it’s having in the Two Hills area, Gulayec said, “In fact, there’s no room in the hospital in Two Hills right now. There were a few sick people and they tried to ship them to Edmonton or get them out of the area, and there was no place to send them.”

People requiring special procedures and surgeries have had them put on hold as a result of the situation. “And that’s the sad part. Around here most of our procedures are general treatment. We don’t do operations unless it’s minor or someone’s been cut. But if it’s serious, they ship them out. And that’s what the problem is, there’s no place to ship them.”

He went on to say, “We know of a family with a child that needs a cancer treatment, a certain type of spinal tap, and they can’t get it because it’s been postponed.”

Don Gulayec

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

In terms of low vaccination rates, one of the contributing factors are the Mennonite people. Gulayec said, “For the majority of the Mennonite population they don’t believe in vaccinations. They don’t believe in masks, things like that. When we had contacted the Mennonite churches, the pastors or the leaders, when this first started, some of the churches had like 600 people in the congregation, and they were gathering. They weren’t vaccinated, they weren’t masking up, but we didn’t really know how many of them actually got sick because that number was never given.

We got a hold of Alberta Health Services and made arrangements so they could talk to the ministers and make them aware at least. Because if you don’t and say they should have known, at least you give them another level that they can speak to.

If a new church was coming up we would send a rep. from council to speak to them, and they said no, we’re not wearing masks. It’s just like the Mennonite School in Two Hills, there’s no masks. The school division had to make the decision to close that school last year.”

While Gulayec is not in favour of anti-vaccine and anti-mask protests at hospitals, he does believe in freedom of choice. “Freedom of choice is in our Charter of Rights.”

As far as his thoughts on the Government of Alberta’s Restrictions Exemption Program? “What I would say is that you have to do what you feel is in the best interests of your family. If you want to go out and take a chance you can, but it’s like going around with a gas can and a match that’s lit all the time. All you need is a little spill and you can get burnt.”