Couple Criticized For Jumping COVID Vaccination Queue

Tuesday, 26 January 2021 12:58

Rodney and Ekaterina Baker chartered a private plane and flew to Beaver Creek to cut to the front of the vaccine line, and potentially exposed an entire community to the virus because they violated quarantine regulations.

Fast and furious is the only way to describe the critical feedback coming in the wake of the Vancouver couple who travelled to Beaver Creek last week to jump the queue for their COVID vaccination.

Wade Istchenko MLA for Kluane said in a statement, “There are many vulnerable people in this community including First Nations elders, and for some southern millionaires to jump the queue, skip quarantine, and lie to health officials, just shows how selfish some people can be.

“I am thankful they were caught and am hopeful that this experience helps us prevent future incidents like this.

Assembly of first Nation Regional Chief Adamek condemned the actions taken by the two out-of-territory travelers.

"Like so many, I'm shocked and angry, but not surprised," said Adamek. "These actions are a blatant display of disrespect and an exemplification of true privilege and entitlement; a selfish millionaire and his wife, stole doses of the vaccine from a vulnerable population, and put an entire community, nation and region at risk."

Adamek also noted “The fines and consequences need to be higher for this type of blatant disregard for First Nations safety. Communities and this region need certainty that these actions will not be tolerated, and that authorities will ensure tighter restrictions are in place for this to not reoccur."

And Mike Farnworth, British Columbia's public safety minister says the Vancouver couple accused of flying to Yukon to get a COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most “despicable” things he's heard in a long time. He says it show a “complete lack of any sort of ethical or moral compass

Tickets filed in a Whitehorse court show the 55-year-old man and his 32-year-old wife were each charged with failing to self-isolate for 14 days and failing to act in a manner consistent with their declarations upon arriving in Yukon.

Farnworth said the couple paid a “pretty high price,” with Rodney Baker losing what the minister described as a “$10-million-a-year job.”

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