Surrey school board ‘discussing’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate

The Lower Mainland’s biggest school board said it is continuing to “discuss” a potential COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its staff members.

In a statement released Saturday, the Surrey Board of Education said it has been reviewing the consequences of a potential vaccine mandate for K to 12 staff, and whether it is necessary for employees in the Surrey School District.

“The Board feels strongly that vaccines are critical in ending this pandemic, but they also recognize the Board’s responsibility to their employees,” the statement reads.

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Vice-Chair of the board, Terry Allen said the organization is approaching the potential decision in a “thoughtful and careful manner.”

“We have had an opportunity to follow the provincial process, to hear from our Medical Health Officer, to consider the available research and consult with our partners to hear all perspectives,” Allen said. “We also continue to gather information on the provincial direction from the Ministry of Education and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association on this important public health and labour relations issue.”

The board said it met with Fraser Health’s medical health officer last week to review recent data from schools in the Fraser Health region, and the potential impact a vaccine mandate may have on transmission numbers.

“We were informed that the Surrey/White Rock area already has high vaccination rates for those that are currently eligible,” says Allen. “And while a vaccine mandate for staff could increase vaccine coverage within the school setting, there would not be a significant impact on the number exposures since the vast majority of cases in schools right now are students who are ineligible to be vaccinated.”

Allen wrote the board is encouraging everyone in the community to get vaccinated against COVID-19, however notes that the board needs to consider whether a mandate would be beneficial for the district, given its already high vaccination rate and “high confidence in the safety of our schools.”