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BY JANIECE CAMPBELL

I hate needles. I don’t think there’s anything in this world that can send shivers down my spine the way that a freshly unpackaged needle can. I have extremely unpleasant middle school memories of lining up to get my shots for meningococcal disease, hepatitis B and HPV. Outside of the freedom of getting out of math class for thirty minutes, I didn’t see much of a reason behind these vaccines.

Twelve years later, I can see that this heavily debated topic is something far bigger than the realm of my middle school. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) claims that vaccines help to prevent 2-3 million deaths from a multitude of life-threatening diseases, there’s still a strong opposing voice against them.

How could that be? How could there be a voice against life-saving medicine?

Smallpox was a devastating disease thought to date back to the Egyptian Empire around the 3rd century BCE. This speculation is based on a smallpox-like rash found on three mummies, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 1967, the Intensified Eradication Program initiated with a plan to globally eliminate the illness through the introduction of a high-quality vaccine. By 1972, the United States had eradicated smallpox and on May 8th, 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly officially declared the world free of the disease. This is considered the biggest achievement in international public health thus far.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the globe, countries around the world are anxious to get their hands on a vaccine as soon as possible. With the millions of dollars invested into the hunt for a vaccine, many researchers worldwide are aiming for approval by the beginning of 2021. The re-opening of the economy and global efforts for a cure have re-energized anti-vaccine critics who are already protesting for what they refer to as their ‘medical freedom.’ Although often dismissed, the anti-vaccination groups may have a striking argument about the awaiting COVID-19 vaccine. If vaccine development normally has to go through five vigorous stages over the course of at least ten years, how can we trust a vaccine to be safely tested and available on the market within a few months?

In an exclusive interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Toronto Caribbean Newspaper’s own Simone Smith had an in-depth conversation about the safety and efficiency of vaccinations. Kennedy, a renowned voice in the vaccine movement since 2005, founded the Children’s Health Defense (previously called World Mercury Project) to challenge and advocate against vaccine regulation, and fluoridation of drinking water.

“I am not anti-vaccine. People call me that as a way of discrediting me or marginalizing me,” he firmly states. “I support safe vaccines that are tested in the way that other products have to be tested.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has quite an unsettling reputation surrounding his claims on how harmful vaccinations can be, especially within his own family. In 2019, his siblings and niece published a piece on Politico, stating that he’s tragically wrong about vaccines. “His and others’ work against vaccines is having heartbreaking consequences. The challenge for public health officials right now is that many people are more afraid of the vaccines than the diseases, because they’ve been lucky enough to have never seen the diseases and their devastating impact. But that’s not luck; it’s the result of concerted vaccination efforts over many years. We don’t need measles outbreaks to remind us of the value of vaccination,” an excerpt from the article reads.

In the last year, a record breaking high of 1,282 individual cases of measles were diagnosed in the United States, the greatest number since 1992. The majority of cases were among people who were not vaccinated for measles, according to the CDC. Still yet, Kennedy is certain on his beliefs and says that he has observed the effects of vaccination first-hand within his own immediate family.

“In 1986, when [Congress passed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act] we were seeing an epidemic of chronic disease in Canada and the United States. I had 11 brothers and sisters. I had 77 cousins. I didn’t know of anybody with a food allergy or eczema. And yet, I have six kids and they all have allergies. Why is that? Whatever happened began in 1986. That same year, the odds of chronic disease raised from 1 in 10,000 in my generation to 1 in 34 children today.”

Chronic disease refers to a multitude of life-long illnesses such as lupus, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and developmental disorders. Some would argue that many of these abnormalities are inherited genetically or caused by an error in the human DNA. Kennedy thinks otherwise.

“Epidemics are not caused by genes; they’re caused by toxins in the environment. Genes can give you the vulnerability, but you need to add the toxins. There are lots of new toxins. We have cellphones, and neonicotinoid pesticides. There are a lot of things you can blame for this explosion of chronic disease. But the best of science has linked the cascade of chronic disease to vaccines. I gave my kids every vaccine that was recommended. Now, I wish I could go back in time.”

There seems to be a global race amongst nations on who will get access to the COVID-19 vaccine first. Although the issue at hand is urgent, should we really be opting for a ‘quick-fix’ solution?

“Roughly a vaccine takes about fifteen years to get to the market. What if a vaccine causes cancer? You won’t know that for at least four to five years. If you only test a vaccine for forty-five days, you’re only going to see what happens in forty-five days. They’re doing a lot of shady things in these tests.”

He continues.

“The leading vaccine right now is the Moderna vaccine and it was tested on 45 people. Bill Gates is one of the investors and Dr. Anthony Fauci put half a million dollars of our taxpayer money into that vaccine. They tested it in Washington and gave it to 45 volunteers. Fifteen got the low dose, fifteen got the medium dose, and fifteen got the high dose. In the low dose group, 1 of the people got sick. That’s 6%. That’s very alarming. In the high dose group, 3 of them got sick. They’re going to give this to a billion people. If 20% of a high dose group is getting sick, then who wants to take that chance?”

Point taken – those statistics do sound pretty frightening out loud. But the question remains. If vaccination isn’t the safest way to go, then how do we battle this highly infectious virus?

“The FDA is saying that they’re going to allow vaccines that are 30-50% efficacious. Well, I can tell you a vaccine that is 99.8% efficacious – it’s called the human immune system! You can bolster your chances of not getting infected by taking vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc. Generally speaking, the people who have those things in their system are not affected by COVID, or they’ll recover very quickly. That’s what we ought to be focussing on: therapeutic drugs rather than the vaccine.”

What does this have to do with the African-Caribbean Community?
Systemic racism is not only evident within the criminal justice system. According to the New York Tmes, African-American and Latin residents of the United States have been three times as likely to become infected as their white neighbours. Data shows that they are also nearly twice as likely to die from the virus as well. Mr. Kennedy took time to educate the community on what we need to know.

“Polling shows that the skepticism is the highest in the African-American community, and there’s good reason for that. There’s lots of studies that show that African-Americans are much more vulnerable to vaccine injury. Vaccine injury, along with other disease like COVID, targets people with vitamin D deficiency. You’ll notice about 95% of people who died from COVID are vitamin D deficient. And that may be one of the reasons why it is attacking African-Americans because virtually, every black person is vitamin D deficient.”

Vitamin D insufficiency is fairly prevalent among black people. Melanin lowers the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure, as it blocks out twice as much UV radiation as white skin. According to the Cooper institute, there tends to be a greater risk for chronic and potentially life-shortening conditions such as stoke, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, some of which are associated with vitamin D deficiency.

“African-Americans also have higher testosterone than caucasians. Testosterone amplifies the neurotoxicity, particularly of mercury. Estrogen tends to wrap around the mercury molecules and protect the female brain. Autism and other developmental disorders are more pronounced in the male population due to the testosterone.”

Lest we forget the horrific 1932 Tuskegee syphilis study, where 399 black men infected with syphilis were manipulated into being a part of a 40-year study. The men, who were promised: free medical exams, free meals and burial insurance, were unaware that the study was to observe the effects of the untreated infection. Even with the introduction of penicillin in the 1940s, the men were never given the drug. 28 of the original 399 black men died of syphilis, 100 died of related complications, 40 of their wives were infected, and 19 of their children were born with congenital syphilis. It’s no surprise that people of colour are inadequately represented in medicine, due to heartbreakingly having mistrust towards medical institutions from past instances like this.

“We know that African-Americans react differently to vaccines than Caucasians. They’re more sensitive to antigens. They need half the antigens that caucasians need; yet, it’s a one-size-fit-all program. Maybe some benefit from vaccines, but it’s clearly true that African-Americans are disproportionately injured by vaccines.”

So, what do we believe? The WHO claims that vaccine hesitancy is one of the top ten threats to global health, so should we be the first in line once the COVID-19 vaccine is mandated? Kennedy concludes with an ominously thought-provoking line.

“Don’t trust me. Don’t trust your doctor. Don’t trust the CDC. Do your own research.”

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3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Dale

    August 6, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    So they will call anyone who questions the WHO’s protocol, or their real objectives, a conspiracy theorist.
    Well if you have a theory, then watch it come to fruition factually, it is no longer a theory it is a truth.
    I pray for people to pay attention, not just to prime time media, but to what is happening around you.
    It’s almost like someone who is an atheist , and Jesus Christ himself stands in front of them and slaps them in the face, then they continue to deny that He is real.
    Thank you Robert Kennedy for having the courage to tell the truth, it’s a shame many won’t believe you.

    Reply

  2. Christopher

    August 22, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    Whem he starts talking to us about economic justice and immigration reform, he can have a conversation. Until then, he can miss us with this whatever it is. I would also like to ask him if Black Lives Matter when it comes to policing.

    Reply

    • Josh Presaud

      August 25, 2020 at 10:18 pm

      Christopher, that’s said with a little bit of ignorance, there are white people that would like to help. This article and interview talks about the negative effects vaccines are having on the POC population and you say “he can miss us”?

      Take your ego down a notch and take a look, you may learn something that may save your life and your loved ones, they are prepping to vaccinate OUR PEOPLE first. Milinda Gates said it point blanc, BLACK PEOPLE SHOULD GET THE VACCINE FIRST.

      Reply

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Community News

Record entries for JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition

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November 5, 2024

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Winner of the 2023 staging of the JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition ,Joel Miller, (third from left), shares a moment with representatives of the Jamaica Cultural |Development Commission (JCDC), organizers of the event. From left are Shaun Drysdale – Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist, Andrew Brodber – Director, Arts Development and Training and Executive Director, Lenford Salmon.

BY RUSHANE FERRON

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has received an unprecedented number of submissions for this year’s FiWi Short Film Competition. Launched earlier this year, the competition drew an impressive 47 entries. Currently, 17 shortlisted films are available for public viewing on the JCDC’s YouTube channel, with winners set to be announced on October 24th.

Executive Director of the JCDC, Mr. Lenford Salmon, expressed pride in the competition’s growing success, stating, “This record number of entries reflects how Jamaicans are embracing the programmes offered by the JCDC. While the Commission is well known for preserving and showcasing our culture, we also recognize the importance of using technology to engage, particularly with our youth. The FiWi Short Film Competition is a perfect example of how we can bring our culture to life in the digital age. The fact that it’s four years old and already experiencing this level of growth is a promising sign for the future.”

Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist at the JCDC, Mr. Shaun Drysdale, attributes this year’s spike in entries to the increasing interest in filmmaking, fueled by the proliferation of social media platforms that support storytelling through visuals.

“We are living in a digital age. Filmmaking is now in the hands of the average person on the street via his, or her cell phone. Add to that the inherent creativity of Jamaicans and you are left with a potent combination, which when given the correct environment, can reap tangible rewards. That is what we are experiencing at this time,” Mr. Drysdale said.

The JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition seeks to promote Jamaican culture through the production of films ranging from 3-5 minutes in duration. The films must be based on set criteria, and primarily centred around a Jamaican proverb.

This year’s proverbs are: “Sweet mout fly follow coffin go a hole”; “Puss nuh hab han, but him tek him foot wipe him face”; “Keep clear a ole house, les dem fall dung pon you”; “Rockstone a riber bottom nuh feel sun hot”; and “Finger tink, yuh cyan cut eh trow ‘wey”.

In addition to the proverbs, participants were also given two special themes around which to build the treatment of their films, based on concepts provided by two sponsors. These are: “SEAS IN FOCUS: Uniting for marine managed areas”- National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) and “Need a passport quick, Get it with just a click”- Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

Mr. Drysdale further noted that this year’s shortlisted films represent a variety of the possible genres with eleven dramatic works, two animation films, one comedy, one documentary and two science fiction films. Three of the participants are from the youth category, which is for filmmakers between 12-18 years old and the remaining 14 from adult category.

In addition to viewing the short films online, the public will have an opportunity to view at a special screening to be held on National Heroes’ Day, Monday, October 21st, 2024, as a feature of JCDC National Heritage Fest and Family Fun Day being held on the south lawn at Devon House in St Andrew.

The FiWi Short Film Competition was started by the JCDC in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition is the brainchild of the JCDC’s Drama and Theatre Arts Unit and encourages Jamaican amateur filmmakers to examine selected Jamaican proverbs and based on their interpretation create the treatment for a short film.

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Community News

York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement

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November 5, 2024

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BY PAUL JUNOR

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which administers the Grade 3, 6 and 9 assessments across Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), recently released the 2024 results. For many schools across the province, EQAO results are a snapshot of how students are doing compared to their peers in other schools at the same grade level.

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) has maintained a high level of consistency with respect to the outstanding performance of its students on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). In a media release on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, details were revealed about the positive achievements and exemplary accomplishments of its students.

EQAO results were released on September 26th, 2024. The focus was, “Mathematics Achievement Remains an Area of Focus but Sees Gradual Growth Over Time with Some School Boards Showing Significant Increases; Literacy Achievement Remains High but Shows Some Decline.” The data was based on the 2023-2024 school year during which over 570,000 students wrote the EQAO assessments at the elementary and secondary levels on the English and French-language school systems.

For students who wrote the Grade 3 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

  • 71% met the provincial standard in reading compared to 73% in 2022-2023, and 73% in 2021-2022.
  • 64% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 65% in 2022-2023 and 65% in 2021-2022.
  • 61% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 60% in 2022-2023 and 59% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 6 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

  • 82% met the provincial standard in reading, compared to 84% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.
  • 80% met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 84% in 2022-2023, and 84% in 2021-2022.
  • 50% met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 50% in 2022-2023 and 47 % in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 9 Assessment in Mathematics:

  • 54% met the provincial standard, compared to 54% in 2022-2023 and 52% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT):

  • 85% of first-time eligible students were successful, compared to 85% in 2022-23 and 82% in 2021-2022.
  • 52% of previously eligible students were successful in 2023-2024, compared to 63% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.

John De Faveri, Interim Director of Education of the YCDSB writes, “We are always looking for ways to provide a better school experience, but today is a time to celebrate our students and staff for their excellent academic achievement. I want to particularly highlight the incredible work that is being done in mathematics, which we see in these results. Mathematical literacy is such an important life skill and we are happy to share a love of numbers with our students.”

Results from the Grade 3, 6 and 9 EQAO Mathematics results show improvement in Mathematics compared to 2023. In addition, with respect to reading and writing results for Grade 6 there has been a consistent steady upward rise in the performance of students as 89% and 90% of students met or exceeded provincial standards when compared to the province’s average of 82% and 89%.

Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board of Trustees for YCDSB states, “EQAO results are just one of the ways we see how York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement. As a Catholic learning community, we want to see every child succeed and EQAO results help us measure our progress toward that noble goal.”

Overall, the percentage of students who participated from YCDSB in Grade 3 and 6 EQAO were 97% and 98%, respectively. For Grade 9 Math assessment there were 93% of eligible students and 97% in the OSSLT.

Any parents or guardians interested in learning about the 2024 EQAO and OSSLT results and individual school results for their children can check the EQAO’s website: https://www.eqao.com/results/.

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York Catholic District School Board plans open house for future high school students

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November 5, 2024

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Credits: Pch.Vector

BY PAUL JUNOR

There is: planning, preparation, and organization that parents, guardians and caregivers must make in York Region as they prepare their children for high school. For those who chose to send them to a high school at the Catholic board, there are open houses planned to make this process easier to navigate.

In a press release on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, details were revealed about these open houses. It notes, “The open houses will highlight key aspects of each school, including administration, programs, graduation requirements, uniforms, school structure, student opportunities and more. In addition, information about the registration process, including registration dates, deadlines and documents needed to enroll, will be discussed.

The media release mentioned the seven regional programs, and ten Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs. They include:

Advanced Placement

Programs with an extended and enriched curriculum allow students to earn credits or advanced standing at most universities.

English as a Second Language

(ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD)

English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development programs assist English language learners from diverse linguistic and education backgrounds in attaining English language proficiency.

French Immersion (FI)

Students who completed the Elementary French Immersion programs, or equivalent can continue with the immersion program to earn a French immersion certificate upon graduation.

High Performer Athlete (HPA)

An academic-based program for student-athletes participating in competitive-level athletics. Students benefit from a flexible timetable to help balance their academic and athletic commitments and earn high school credits for the work they put into their training.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

A rigorous and intellectually challenging pre-university course of study that allows students to earn an IB Diploma upon graduation, recognized in Canada and abroad.

Regional Arts (RAP)/Integrated Regional Arts Program(iRAP)

Students specialize in drama, dance, visual arts, digital media arts, instrumental music, or vocal music- while obtaining their high school diploma. In the iRAP, students experience their learning through an integrated model where the curriculum is explored in relation to the interconnectedness of the individual, the community, and the world.

STREAM Program

Students explore real-world challenges and use the design thinking process to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills, guided by the traditional Catholic social teachings. This academic program uses an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry and problem-based learning.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Students can obtain a diploma with a specialist in either: Arts and Culture; Aviation and Aerospace; Business; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism; Information and Communication Technology; Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services, Manufacturing; or Non-Profit. Every YCDSB school offers a SHSM program.

Parents or guardians who live in York Region and are interested in any programs can check: Website: www.ycdsb.ca

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