Coronavirus: Anti-vaccine and anti-blocking announcements appear in West Kelowna

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine advertisements have appeared on some West Kelowna billboards.

Several advertisements scroll across digital billboards. It reads: “COVID. Is the cure worse than the disease?”

Another says, “Masks. Distance. Blocks … Are they working?”

The announcements are causing some controversy in the Okanagan.

“With the number of cases increasing every day in BC, now is not the time to question the science behind the pandemic,” said Tim Werry, a West Kelowna resident.

Bob Stedham, a Peachland resident, said he was confused as to why people should believe these conspiracies.

“I strongly believe in the health industry and I strongly believe in Dr. Bonnie Henry and her advice. I’m baffled as to why people might think the government is trying to control us, “he said.

Another West Kelowna resident who said he has relatives in the healthcare industry said the information on the ads is dangerous.

“I think those ads are pretty ignorant, out of place and misleading. I happen to have a sister who is a doctor and a sister who is a doctor and they are dealing with this every day,” said Gerry Bakker.

The ads direct people to a website called Vaccine Choice Canada, filled with anti-vaccination propaganda, anti-blocking petitions, and other articles claiming that the COVID-19 measures have gone too far.

The billboards are run by a company called Mountain Media.

The company did not respond to interview requests, but on its website it says “any graphic can be used as long as it is not offensive”.

Vaccine Choice Canada has two Okanagan chapters, one in Lake Country and Vernon.

Neither responded to Global News interview requests in time for the broadcast.

In a statement, Interior Health said she hopes the public will rely on reliable and accurate public health information, such as that provided regularly by Dr. Bonnie Henry, Interior Health health officers, and the BC Center for Disease Control.

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