An increase in COVID-19 cases induced by the Delta variant has prompted British Columbia health officials to enforce compulsory vaccine requirements for every staff and volunteers at long-term care and assisted living sites.
Provincial health officer, Dr Bonnie Henry said recently that Canadians living under such settings are at specific risk and transmission from unvaccinated people has triggered outbreaks.
Henry said: “I recognize that this is a change from the direction we announced earlier in the spring and June, where we thought it would be sufficient to have additional measures such as testing in place.
“We have now seen with the transmission of the new variants that we need extra protection in this highly risky situation.”
He said staff, volunteers and providers of personal service are expected to be vaccinated by October 12, while those who have not had their shots must put on masks and additional protective gear and be tested regularly.
Data on immunization will be gathered by the Public Health Office and officials will use it to determine where vaccination efforts must be focused.
When he was asked if other B.C. businesses should be able to employ or sack staff based on their vaccination status, Henry revealed she supported businesses making decisions that permit staff to stay safe.
Health Minister Adrian Dix disclosed that the new requirements are an important step to safeguard residents and staff at seniors’ care centres.
He said: “The fact of an outbreak, I can tell you as minister of health but also as a family member, is incredibly disruptive and painful to residents of long-term care, families and everyone else.”
Dix revealed that the government cannot forecast if legal action would be carried out against them for mandating vaccines under such a setting, and added that the government believes it is based on a strong legal footing.
The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association initially called for mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers.
In a recent statement, the President of the Association, Dr Ann Collins said: “There is significant evidence that vaccines are safe and effective and as health professionals who are leading the vaccination campaigns, it is the right call and an appropriate step.”
The Health Minister of Quebec said during a recent news conference that the province was looking at making COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers compulsory in the province.
Also, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said recently that he asked the clerk of the Privy Council to look into making vaccinations compulsory in some federally regulated workplaces.
However, Ontario and Alberta have said they would not make vaccinations compulsory for anything.
The B.C. General Employees’ Union, a union that represents over 23,000 members in the healthcare sector, said the provincial government also needs to re-enforce single-site restrictions, which prohibits employees from working at more than one care home.
In a statement, the Treasurer of the union, Paul Finch said: “With the rapid spread of the Delta variant in B.C. and elsewhere, it’s critical that our province takes the steps necessary to prevent the spread of the virus and protect our vulnerable neighbours and front-line workers.”
Over 80 per cent of the province’s eligible residents have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and about 72 percent of residents have been fully vaccinated.
