There is a reckless and dishonest op-ed in my newspaper by an Irwin Studin that asks a number of questions and pretends that the answers are unavailable. Let me provide them. 1. "Who approved the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for Canada?" National regulatory agencies around the world, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), approved the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. In Canada, Health Canada did so. 2. "Why were they approved without proper Canadian testing?" The vaccines were tested in clinical trials and authorized under Health Canada's Interim Order for COVID-19 related drugs. They were approved in December 2020. They had been tested for months and underwent standard, rigorous preclinical testing and three sequential phases of human clinical trials before receiving regulatory authorization. 3. "Were they approved with any knowledge of risks of injury and death?" Before emergency authorization and full regulatory approvals, clinical trials and scientific reviews identified specific short-term adverse events and theoretical risks associated with mRNA technology. These included allergic reactions and flu-like symptoms. There were no statistically significant difference in overall or all-cause mortality between the vaccinated and placebo groups. None. 4. "Why were these risks not communicated frontally [sic] to Canadians?" COVID-19 mRNA vaccine side effect risks were communicated to Canadians through official channels, repeatedly. The federal government and public health agencies used a multi-layered approach to convey side effect risks. $88 million was spent communicating with the public about Covid-19 and vaccines in just 2020. Physicians communicated risks, as did the media, including the one in which Rudin published his conspiracy theory. 5. "Why were the vaccines not removed immediately upon information about injuries and likely deaths? (This would have been done for any product on any sane Canadian day!)" This is the most reckless bit of propaganda in this screed. After attempting to build a false case there were serious risks and fatalities, the author insinuates blame for "injuries and likely deaths" that he has not shown happened. Insinuating homicide is a serious charge. He has provided no proof. Where is the proof? 6. "And why, pray tell, were we forcing perfectly healthy Canadians — including young Canadians and pregnant women — to take the vaccine simply in order to access what were once considered basic public goods in our beloved Canada?" This too is a falsehood. No one in Canada was held down to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Again, where is his proof that people were physically restrained and injected with something? He has none. Opinions are fine. Presenting bullshit as facts is not.

This is a really, really important list.