Vaccination Round-Up – November 26, 2021

VACCINES IN THE WORKPLACE – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK

With BC exceeding its vaccination targets, regulations lifting and the reintegration of employees to the workplace on the horizon, employers are now faced with trying to navigate the changing dynamic of vaccines and the workplace. We anticipate that changes to legislation could happen on short notice and have created this Round-Up to help employers stay informed in a situation that is so rapidly evolving.

Here are a few important things I thought worth sharing this week:

IN THE NEWS

British Columbia

• 92% of respondents to Vernon School District staff survey indicate they are double vaccinated – Vernon Morning Star – November 18, 2021 – read the article here.
• Langley City employees, contractors and volunteers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 24, 2022 – Langley Advance Times – November 17, 2021 – read the article here.

Alberta

• Uptake is slow despite Alberta’s pleas for single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine – CBC – November 20, 2021 – read the article here.
• Alberta Health Services reports that while 96% of AHS works are immunized significant holdouts remain – CBC – November 19, 2021 – read the article here.

Saskatchewan

• Saskatchewan continues to deny vaccine mandate for schools and for extracurricular activities – Global News – November 20, 2021 – read the article here.
• As new requirements take effect, City of Saskatoon reports 85% of workers fully vaccinated – Saskatoon Star Phoenix – November 16, 2021 – read the article here.

Manitoba

• Starting Monday, essential caregivers going into hospitals and health centres in Manitoba must provide proof of full immunization from COVID-19 – Global News – November 21, 2021 – read the article here.

Ontario

• Chapman’s Ice Cream faces backlash and boycott over vaccination policy – CBC – November 23, 2021 – read the article here.
• The Toronto District School Board has granted temporary exemptions for roughly 290 unvaccinated staff – CBC – November 22, 2021 – read the article here.
• The Union representing thousands of Toronto Transit Commission workers loses injunction to halt TTC’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy – Global News – November 20, 2021 – read the article here.
• More than 500 City of Toronto staff suspended for not complying with vaccination policy – Global News – November 19, 2021 – read the article here.
• Dozens of Warmington firefighters, including those with PTSD, and city workers in other departments face unpaid suspension and firing for not complying with vaccination policy – Toronto Sun – November 18, 2021 – read the article here.

Quebec

• An unvaccinated employee of a government supply firm loses bid to halt federal vaccination policy – The Ottawa Citizen – November 17, 2021 – read the article here.

New Brunswick

• A number of school bus routes have been impacted due to vaccine mandate for government workers – CBC – November 23, 2021 – read the article here.

I hope you found this Round-Up helpful. If you have any questions relating to the reopening of your business or reintegration of your staff – our Workplace Law group is here to assist.