Effective December 6, 2021, the city of Vancouver will implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy for all of its employees and staff.
According to the city’s recently released statement, the policy aligns with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s recommendations regarding taking the fight against the pandemic to a “higher level” by urging larger employers to set up and implement a vaccine mandate.
While the city advocates for the complete vaccination of all its employees and staff, it emphasized that valid reasons for exemption will be accommodated, particularly those medical in nature, including those covered by the BC Human Rights Code.
“Vancouver has one of the highest vaccination rates, making us one of the world’s safest cities as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayor Kennedy Stewart related. “Having all City staff fully vaccinated by December 6 is another step towards building on our success as a community and making sure we put the health of our workers and the public first.”
Vancouver City Manager, Paul Mochrie, stressed that the city has always “focused on the health and safety of its staff, local residents and businesses.” He added that the city will “continue to follow direction from public health in our workplaces, and this mandatory vaccination policy will help provide a further level of protection against this virus for City staff and the public we serve.”
After December 6, city employees and staff who still haven’t had their full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will not be given access to the City of Vancouver workplaces.
