b.c. orders all long-term care home workers to be vaccinated
health employees union says move could force many out of work
aug 13 2021
3 minute read
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by: david carrigg
the union representing 20,000 workers in long-term care and assisted-living homes in b.c. fear a mandatory vaccination order will push many workers out of health care altogether.
on thursday, the provincial health officer ordered that all staff at long-term care and assisted-living facilities must get fully vaccinated by oct. 12 and unvaccinated workers must wear masks until they get their jabs.
this is the first time dr. bonnie henry has issued a mandatory vaccination order for any sector in b.c.
she also ordered that volunteers and personal service providers at care homes not be allowed in until they are fully vaccinated, effective immediately. unvaccinated visitors will still be allowed to visit family in care homes, but must wear masks.
hospital employees’ union spokesman mike old said a recent survey found almost a quarter of his members were likely to leave health care within two years due to pandemic pressures.
“while many will support this measure, it will be controversial and it may push some to leave their jobs altogether,” old said in a statement.
terry lake, ceo of the b.c. care providers association and engage b.c., said his organization — representing 154 long-term care homes and 92 assisted-living facilities — supports the new rules.
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old said the order must accommodate workers who don’t want to be vaccinated on grounds that are protected by human rights legislation — such as religious beliefs.
“we are concerned that this policy change has the potential to compound a serious staffing crisis that is undermining care and putting workers’ health and welfare at risk,” old said.
a january 2021 analysis of mandatory vaccination orders published in the canadian medical association journal noted the topic is highly charged. the analysis said a challenge could be made under the canadian charter of rights and freedoms but would likely fail if there were provisions for people with existing health problems or who objected on religious or conscientious grounds.
henry said all of b.c.’s 395 long-term care and assisted-living facilities that receive public funding must provide the b.c. ministry of health with a record of which workers have been vaccinated. those lacking proof of vaccination as of oct. 12 will lose their jobs.
there are 92 long-term care and assisted living facilities that are fully private and do not receive government funding. those must also comply with the order.
henry said the eight active covid-19 outbreaks in long-term care settings in b.c. were caused by unvaccinated workers — including at west kelowna’s brookhaven care centre, with five sick residents and 17 staff, and the cottonwoods care centre in kelowna, where eight residents and three staff are infected.
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henry said the vast majority of people living in care facilities are vaccinated, and the majority of staff as well. however, in some facilities, the vaccination rate among workers is lower than the provincial average of 71.6 per cent fully vaccinated.
almost all covid-19 cases among people living in long-term care and assisted-living facilities in b.c. since the pandemic began last march were introduced by staff — leading to hundreds of deaths.
henry said she received legal advice that her order was a “proportional and reasonable response to the pandemic” and the order was supported by the office of the information and privacy commissioner.
henry said she is now assessing whether a mandatory vaccination order should be made for health-care workers in other high-risk settings. she also acknowledged that health-care workers — including nurses and doctors — are leaving the profession because of burnout.
there are no plans to make vaccination mandatory across b.c.
however, henry said businesses might choose to deny entry to unvaccinated people into high-risk covid-19 settings like indoor sports games and concerts. on wednesday, the vancouver
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for entry into its venues.
dr. brian conway, medical director of the vancouver infectious diseases centre, said vaccinations could never be forced on a person, but an unvaccinated person would face consequences.
“while protecting the rights of individuals who don’t want to be vaccinated or disclose, there are consequences to that, that they will not be able to work in that workplace any longer,” conway said. “we are going to have to get used to it. we are going to be seeing more and more of this. covid is not going away.”
b.c. reported 513 new cases of covid-19 on thursday, of which 52 per cent were in interior health.
there are 3,596 active cases, of which 81 are being treated in hospital including 33 in intensive care.
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