Will pediatric COVID-19 vaccines prove a flash point for violence against healthcare workers?

Dr. Adam Kassam, president of the Ontario Medical Association, renewed his call to end verbal and online abuse towards physicians and other healthcare workers, at a media briefing on Nov. 24. Abuse has been escalating and the current timing of third doses and pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations could increase it further, he said. “We know this could be a flash area in terms of escalation of rhetoric.” The approval of the vaccine for children has “sparked increased rage among anti-vaxxers,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, a pediatrician and medical officer of health and CEO of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit. Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association and a pediatrician in Whitehorse, thinks the misinformation movement has become more organized and “in some cases, almost radicalized," leading to more instances of harassment towards healthcare workers online and in person. “The volume of it is increasing,” she said. “It is truly a daily occurrence multiple times a day, everywhere.” While a high percentage of Canadians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and abide by restrictions, it only takes a small amount of people to disrupt the system, she said. Dr. Kassam supported the Canadian Medical Association’s initiative to ask the federal government to amend the criminal code to better protect healthcare professionals. The CMA is urging a new offence in the Criminal Code of Canada that addresses threats, violence, harassment and intimidation of healthcare workers. The code, for example, currently includes a specific section on the assault of a peace officer. Dr. Smart added that making and enacting legislation would underline the serious nature of verbally or physically abusing a healthcare worker and would give more protection to those providing healthcare. The CMA also wants added protection for people seeking healthcare. Read: CMA urges federal government, social media companies to protect healthcare workers from harassment The CMA is meeting with representatives from a number of social media platforms next week, said Dr. Smart, in hopes of developing a plan to stop online harassment and threats. Dr. Jennifer Kwan, a family physician in Burlington, Ont., and a healthcare advocate who posts COVID-19 statistics on Twitter, said she’s had to institute measures in her clinic to protect her patients and her staff. Her clinic now has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and her staff are instructed to call the police if certain people appear at the clinic. Many have suffered hardship as a result of the pandemic and some are taking their frustrations out on healthcare workers, said Dr. Kwan. “I feel like there is some misdirected anger that is being directed towards healthcare workers." Dr. Roumeliotis noted that the majority of the public have supported healthcare workers. “We’re talking about a loud, vocal minority that is behaving in an inappropriate manner." People have traveled from out of town to the Eastern Ontario Health Unit in order to protest, he noted. One person broke into the offices to verbally abuse staff in person. “It is a small group that seems to be well-organized thanks to the internet." “Every health unit has their own story." The abuse is contributing to burnout among healthcare professionals. “Obviously the vitriol that some of our colleagues have been experiencing both online and in person absolutely contributes to burnout,” Dr. Kassam said. “We’re seeing this in real time. We’re seeing people leaving the profession.” Dr. Smart said the type of abuse healthcare workers experience depends on the setting: In clinics, it's mostly verbal abuse in person or over the phone from people who are angry about not being able to get a medical exemption or sick note to avoid vaccination for COVID-19. In hospital environments, healthcare professionals are experiencing verbal abuse from people protesting vaccine mandates, and sometimes even physical abuse, such as spitting, shoving or blocking their path. There are also patients with COVID-19 in hospital who are lashing out at the medical staff trying to treat them. Online, those against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccination policies are attacking healthcare advocates with threats and harassment. “As you can see it really crosses over to all the areas we work in,” she said. A number of public health advocates have shared guidance on how to protect themselves, Dr. Kwan said. The support from the general public far outweighs the abuse from a small group of people, Drs. Kwan and Roumeliotis said. Dr. Roumeliotis said staff at some public health clinics have been given cards, pizza and doughnuts, which were very appreciated. “Despite all the negativity, we are primed and ready to go." Read: Ontario doctor considering zero-tolerance policy says his staff are going home in tears because of verbal abuse from patients

Will pediatric COVID-19 vaccines prove a flash point for violence against healthcare workers?

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