B.C. premier confident health care vaccine mandate won’t compromise care

B.C.’s premier says the province’s health-care system will continue seamlessly, as the deadline arrives for all health-care workers to have at least dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The mandate could mean thousands of workers would be forced to take leave without pay, however Premier John Horgan says the risk of unvaccinated staff making their colleagues or patients ill is too big.

“I’m confident with the time that’s been made available to health authorities, working with Dr. Henry and Minister Dix, that our health authorities are in a position to ensure that we can continue to provide world class quality care to British Columbians in every setting possible,” he said.

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Starting Tuesday, nearly 130,000 hospital and health-care staff need to have at least one dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine. The deadline for 50,000 long-term care and assisted living staff was Oct. 12. By that day, nearly 2,000 of those workers had refused.

Data provided by the province Monday shows 3,402 workers have not been immunized, which works out to three per cent overall. That rate is five per cent in Interior Health, and four per cent in Northern Health. An additional 2,598 workers are not fully vaccinated, and the deadline for them to get their second shot is Nov. 15.

A break down of vax status of BC's nearly 130,000 healthcare workers in hospital & community health. Tuesday those without a dose will be on leave without pay. Rates are high but @Interior_Health & @Northern_Health with the most unvaccinated workers.#bcpoli #covid19 @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/IznnL0DvP9

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 26, 2021

The province first announced the mandate in August, saying it was making the move because of “disruptive” outbreaks linked to the Delta variant and non-vaccinated people.

Horgan says health authorities have had plenty of lead time to prepare for potential job vacancies, but notes time hasn’t run out just yet.

“I’m hopeful that the small number of workers who are still resistant to that will get the information they need, they’ll be comfortable with their choices, and we can continue on to provide quality service for British Columbians,” he said.

“If those unvaccinated workers become ill and they’re asymptomatic, it can bring COVID-19 into their workforce, which will further disrupt service to those citizens whether they be in long-term care or acute care facilities across British Columbia.”