Chilliwack school board decides against vaccine mandate for staff

The Chilliwack school district has announced it will not be mandating vaccines for staff.

In a statement released Monday, the board’s vice chair said the decision comes after considering the  “impact on students and staff from an equity and inclusive lens,” and after reviewing the province’s guidelines and data from the health authority.

“A vaccine mandate for staff is not likely to significantly reduce the comparative risk in schools,” Jared Mumford writes.

“Vaccination mandates are more appropriate in high-risk settings where transmission is high and outcomes are severe. Schools are not considered high-risk settings. Please note that given all the facts – and to ensure we can keep our schools open and not exacerbate inequities in the system – the Board is confident this is the right decision to make.”

The statement goes on to say the board will continue to follow provincial safety protocols, “implementing enhanced, targeted and intensive measures in schools when a cluster is detected.”

The decision follows similar moves in Surrey, Vancouver, New Westminster, and Abbotsford. Instead of implementing a province-wide mandate, B.C. has left it up to each of the 60 school districts to decide. S far, no board has decided to require staff to be immunized.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, vaccination rates in Chilliwack are below the provincial average. As of Nov. 2, 75 per cent of those eligible were fully vaccinated. Province-wide, the rate on that day was 86 per cent.

Chilliwack, along with the rest of the Fraser East region remains under heightened restrictions on gathering for those who are not fully vaccinated.

When announcing those restrictions Sept. 28, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the move was being made following “a notable rise in cases in schools.”