Workers must get vaccinated by December

peter.jackson

@thetelegram.com @pjackson_nl rosie.mullaley

@thetelegram.com @Telyrosie

If you live in Newfoundland and Labrador and are not fully vaccinated by Dec. 17, you may find yourself out of work.

The province became the latest Canadian jurisdiction to unveil a mandatory vaccination policy Friday, Oct. 15, and it doesn’t just apply to government workers.

Any private business that serves vulnerable clients or requires the use of the Nlvaxpass system by patrons must also comply. That can include everything from ambulance services and personal care homes to restaurants and bars.

Teachers and school staff also have to comply.

“This is not a decision we made lightly,” Premier Andrew Furey said during Friday’s announcement. “With the Delta variant hitting our province with a fourth wave of COVID-19, it became clear that we need to use every tool we can to protect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”

Furey said the measure represents another method in the province’s efforts to get “90 per cent and beyond” of the province’s eligible population vaccinated.

“I am confident that our public service will continue to do their part to protect our friends, family and coworkers.”

The premier said he doesn’t expect staffing issues to arise from resignations or suspensions because the vaccination rate is already high.

“If a health-care worker is in a hospital, exposing people who are vulnerable and immune-compromised to this virus, that’s unacceptable and we can’t allow that to happen,” he said. “It would arguably cause more disruption in the health-care system itself than suspending someone without pay.”

LIMITED EXEMPTIONS

Exemptions will be issued for those who can prove they have a medical reason not to get the vaccine, but the criteria are very limited. Only someone who has had a severe reaction to their first COVID-19 shot, including inflammation of heart tissue or lining, will be considered.

Finance Minister Siobhan Coady said Friday the province will follow its legislative obligations if a human rights complaint is lodged against the policy.

Charter of Rights challenges against mandatory vaccination policies have already been launched in two other provinces — Quebec and British

Columbia.

The government has also set out a twice-weekly COVID-19 testing protocol should the situation arise that it’s needed, but no such scenario is currently foreseen.

Those granted an exemption from vaccination will not have to be tested.

“As a government, we must lead by example,” Health Minister Dr. John Haggie said. “The changing nature of COVID-19 requires us to respond as the latest science and data determine. We are working in line with our federal and provincial counterparts to ensure we are stepping up to provide the best tools to see us through this pandemic.”

The policy will apply to anyone who does business with the government, such as contractors, and even volunteers.

Regulations and enforcement procedures will be released at a later date.

UNIONS ON BOARD

The province consulted major unions and assoications in the province before issuing the vaccination mandate.

Registered Nurses’ Union president Yvette Coffey said they unequivocally support the move, noting that the coronavirus has already killed millions of people around the globe.

“The virus has repeatedly put hospitals on the brink, on multiple occasions resulting in the rationing of care,” Coffey told The Telegram. “We took part in the consultations, and we support this policy.”

With the province already experiencing nursing shortages, viral outbreaks would only add to the strain on the system, she said.

“It’s all part of the equation.”

Jerry Earle, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), told reporters Friday he supports the government’s vaccination policy “as a principle” and recommends members follow it.

However, he said not everyone will agree and if there are members who oppose receiving the vaccine, those cases will be reviewed on an individual basis.

“We will look at if an individual comes forward with an issue and what we need to do to address it,” said Earle, adding that certain factors need to be considered, such as if employers made accommodations for employees.

“They’ve certainly put exemptions in there to meet medical requirements and there are key pieces we have to look at and what happens to people who outright don’t get vaccinated.”

Nonetheless, Earle said NAPE will focus on the broader picture — the importance of health and safety in the entire province.

“I would encourage people, unless they have an exemption, to please get vaccinated for the health and safety of themselves and their coworkers, for the health and safety of people that’s entrusted in their care,” he said.

Earle said Dec. 17 allows a reasonable timeframe, but added there is one thing missing from the policy — an education component.

“I think there’s nothing more important than to educate people around the reason for a policy,” he said. “Because some of it is true hesitancy. They hesitate, but once they’re educated (they understand).”