Witness Testimony

Dr. Eric Payne testified that shortly after relocating from the Mayo Clinic to Calgary in February 2020, he became concerned about vaccine mandates tying medical licensure and employment to COVID-19 vaccination. In September 2021 he submitted an 18-page, reference-supported letter to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta challenging the scientific and ethical basis of mandates. He argued that public messaging misrepresented efficacy by emphasizing relative risk reduction (e.g., 95%) rather than absolute risk reduction (approximately 1%), resulting in a high number needed to vaccinate to prevent a single mild case. He testified that vaccines did not prevent transmission as initially claimed and cited provincial and international data showing breakthrough infections and what he characterized as negative effectiveness during the Omicron wave.
Payne further testified that risk–benefit calculations were especially problematic in children, referencing modelling data that projected minimal pediatric lives saved relative to myocarditis risk. He emphasized natural-acquired immunity studies, stating that post-infection immunity provided robust protection against severe disease. He raised concerns regarding antibody-dependent enhancement, immune imprinting, and evolutionary pressure from mass vaccination during an active pandemic. He also discussed biodistribution findings, stating that mRNA and spike protein were detected beyond the injection site, including in organs, breast milk, and cerebrospinal fluid in certain studies, and cited laboratory findings suggesting potential reverse transcription in vitro.
He testified that adverse event databases (VAERS, EudraVigilance, WHO VigiAccess) showed unprecedented reporting volumes compared to historical vaccines and alleged underreporting. He further raised concerns about manufacturing batch variability and possible quality-control irregularities. Professionally, he stated he was locked out of his hospital position for non-compliance with vaccination mandates, subjected to College investigations for alleged misinformation, and later not renewed in his university role despite the policy being rescinded. He concluded by criticizing masking mandates for lack of randomized controlled trial evidence and warning of developmental harms to children from prolonged masking and school disruptions.