More than 4,000 health-care workers remain unvaccinated, says province’s health minister – CBC

Those who choose not to be vaccinated or disclose status to employer risk eventual job loss

Oct 26, 2021

As of Oct. 26, health-care workers in B.C. are required to be immunized against COVID-19.

The mandate includes anyone who works in any kind of health-care setting, including students, volunteers, physicians, residents, contractors and all other health-care professionals. It also applies to people who work in home and community care locations, including client homes.

During a media briefing on Tuesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said more than 4,000 health-care workers missed the deadline for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.

He said those who remain unvaccinated will be placed on unpaid leave and must receive a first dose by Nov. 15 if they want to keep their jobs, unless they have a medical exemption.

“All of us are very solemn about this moment because the requirement to get vaccinated is an absolute necessity in our health-care system but we know the impact on people and on families and we are hopeful and encouraging people to get vaccinated,” Dix said

He said a total of 4,090 health-care workers in the province have not yet received a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vaccine-mandate-health-care-workers-1.6225527