B.C. school boards told to determine their own vaccine policy for staff

B.C.’s Education Ministry has released new guidelines to help school boards create COVID-19 vaccination policies, leaving any final decisions up to the respective boards.

The ministry, in a statement Friday, says the guidelines will help B.C.’s 61 school boards determine if a mandatory vaccination policy works best for them.

“The guidelines provide a roadmap to enable school boards to make an informed decision on a mandatory vaccination policy and help school boards to ensure that the continued delivery of safe in-person education is a top priority,” says a statement from the Ministry of Education.

RELATED: B.C. teachers, parents want action on vaccine mandate for schools

The ministry says it will also work with schools, public and private, to make sure they have the tools and resources to support the process.

“With guidelines now available, trustees can make decisions around vaccination policies that work best for their communities as we work together to continue to support a culture of vaccination in our schools,” says Minister Jennifer Whiteside.

The province doing classic Friday night dump with #covid19 staff vaccine mandate guidelines for school boards
1.tally unvaxxed staff
2.verify mandate is legal
3.consult FN & community
4.decide on mandate/communicate
5.implementhttps://t.co/1xYxUEdnbe#bcpoli #bced @CityNewsVAN

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 22, 2021

The nine-page document comes after the province convened an advisory committee earlier this month.

“Boards and authorities that decide to implement a vaccine policy as a workplace health and safety measure should allow time for consultation with local partners, should be transparent in their communications with staff, and should provide sufficient time to allow currently unvaccinated staff to become vaccinated before final implementation,” the document reads.

“Given the complexities of such a decision, boards and authorities should also take the following steps. If boards and authorities choose not to follow the steps as outlined in this document, they should be aware there may be legal or financial implications.”

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The first step is to get the data on vaccination rates among district staff, either by extrapolating from overall immunization rates in the community, or by having employees voluntarily disclose. This step, according to the document, could in and of itself serve to increase uptake.

“Creating a culture of vaccine disclosure and evidence gathering may be sufficient to increase local vaccination rates. It is recommended that as employers, boards and authorities start by establishing a culture of supporting vaccinations and vaccination disclosure in collaboration with employee groups.”

However, if this isn’t successful in boosting the number of staff who get the shot, the next step is to get legal advice to ensure a mandatory vaccine policy is not in conflict with employment law, the BC Human Rights Code, or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Guidance should also be sought at this stage from the health authority.

Next, consultation should be done with First Nations, employee groups, and the “broader community.” It is at this stage that the province recommends developing “staffing contingency plans to ensure educational delivery can continue in the event that a significant number of staff require accommodations, alternative measures, or are placed on leave without pay.”

Only after these three steps have been completed is it recommended to make a decision and announcement about a vaccine mandate. This includes setting a deadline for immunization that allows staff who are not vaccinated to get the shot.

The final step is to implement the plan, including figuring out a process through which employees will prove they have received the vaccine.