B.C. to mandate vaccines for visitors to long-term, acute care centres

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Visitors to long-term care homes in B.C. will soon have to be fully immunized against COVID-19.

The mandate comes into effect Oct. 12 and extends to visitors to acute care centres on Oct. 26.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry made the announcement Tuesday, explaining this move comes as the province enters a time of respiratory illness and challenges along with the COVID-19 virus.

“We will of course have exceptions for certain situations, like palliative and end-of-life care,” Henry said. 

As of Monday, there were 18 active outbreaks in these settings.

NEW: update to visitor policy. Starting october 12 visitors must prove complete vaccinated to LTC
As of Oct 26 must show full vaccination for acute care settings.
Anyone working or volunteering in LTC must be fully vaccinated.#bcpoli @NEWS1130 @CityNewsVAN #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 5, 2021

Meanwhile, long-term care workers who receive their first dose before next Tuesday can continue to work, but they will need to commit to getting their second dose within 35 days. The previous first dose cut-off date was Sept. 13 but was extended to Oct. 12.

“This is recognizing that it is important for us to have people who are vaccinated working in these high-risk settings, and we encourage every single person in long-term care [be vaccinated], we know the vaccination rates are … in some places, not yet high enough,”

Read More: 

• Relief, some questions about B.C.’s mandatory vaccine for health care workers

• B.C. mandates COVID-19 vaccinations for long-term care workers

People who want to volunteer or who want to take on other roles in a long-term care setting (Eg. hairdresser, podiatrist, etc.) must be vaccinated too.

If workers decide to get their shots after the cut-off, they will need to wait seven days before returning to work with additional precautions in place, and commit to receiving a second dose.

So new today:
100000 Clinically vulnerable added to 3rd dose priority
Visitors & all volunteers must be fully vaxxed for LTC Oct 12, acute care Oct 26
LTC/asst lvg workers not vaxxed as of Oct 13th will be on leave without pay#bcpoli @NEWS1130 @CityNewsVAN #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 5, 2021

Some people will be medically exempt, but there will be additional preventive measures in place for those situations.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the Northern Health region has the lowest rate of vaccinations among health care workers, where 88 per cent of staff have received the first dose. In Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health, the rate is 97 per cent, while Vancouver Island has 95 per cent and the Interior has 93 per cent.

“Now is the time to get vaccinated … as well, to support the efforts that are so important in long-term care to ensure that everyone is protected,” he said.