COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health workers: a look at their implementation across the country

Nine out of ten provincial medical associations officially endorse mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare providers, yet provincial governments have imposed different mandates across the country. Not all Canadian physicians are included in the mandates to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or face testing or, in some cases, unpaid leave. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Nurses Association released a statement in August calling for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers. All provincial medical associations across Canada have made similar statements, with the exception of the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island, although the matter will be discussed at their next board meeting, a spokesperson said. The provincial mandates for COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers depends on who employs the healthcare workers. For example, it may only apply to physicians employed by the provincial health authority, and does not apply to physicians in private practice. The exception is in Manitoba and Quebec, where healthcare providers in private and public practice alike must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face penalties. On the federal level, the Canadian government announced in August that all federal public service employees and Canadian Armed Forces members need to be immunized against COVID-19, a requirement which applies to numerous physicians. Here is a summary of vaccine mandates for other healthcare workers across Canada: British Columbia Doctors of B.C. made an announcement in August that it supported mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers. The provincial government did impose a mandate, and everyone working in health authority facilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of October 26, 2021. This includes all physicians who work at health authority facilities or clinics or have privileges at health authority facilities. Also, any physicians who provide care in long-term care homes and senior’s assisted living facilities must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Physicians who work in their own private offices are exempt from this order. Physicians can choose to have a mandatory vaccination policy in their clinics, but Doctors of B.C. said that they “strongly suggest any physicians considering having a mandatory vaccination policy for their staff should seek their own legal advice.” Read: Risk of death 133% higher with Delta than original COVID, Canadian study finds Alberta Past-president Dr. Paul Boucher announced in August that the Alberta Medical Association supported mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers. All Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees, contracted healthcare providers and medical learners must be fully immunized against COVID-19 by October 31. Employees must have their second dose no later than October 16, in order to be fully immunized by October 31. This includes medical staff with privileges at AHS facilities and programs, and people working at Alberta Precision Labs, Carewest, CapitalCare and Covenant Health. There are more than 8,700 medical staff of AHS, and as of October 5, approximately 5,100 have submitted documentation required about their COVID-19 vaccination status. Read: ‘Not prepared to commit fraud': How doctors are communicating with patients who demand vax exemptions Manitoba Doctors Manitoba wrote to the province’s government in late July supporting mandatory COVID-19 immunization for healthcare workers. “When you consider the threat posed by COVID-19 compared to how safe and effective the vaccines are, requiring employee immunization is a necessary next step,” said Dr. Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba in an August 23 press release. “This must be a requirement in health care, where it is all workers’ duty to protect the health of their patients.” The Manitoba government mandated that all healthcare workers who are in direct patient care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 31. This includes people working in private or public healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities and community or home care. Those who don’t get vaccinated with be required to get proof of a recent negative test prior to the start of each shift. The sample of the test must have been collected no more than 48 hours before. Read: Update on vaccine passport programs from province to province Saskatchewan The Saskatchewan Medical Association called for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers in and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) implemented a vaccination policy for all employees on October 1. “We are implementing this policy now because we do not believe that we can provide a safe workplace any longer without our health care teams being fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Dr. Kevin Wasko, physician executive of Integrated Rural Health said in a press release. The press release said that there have been “multiple scenarios recently where unvaccinated team members have introduced COVID-19 infection into the settings we serve across the SHA, resulting in COVID-19 exposures and infections.” Healthcare workers employed by SHA who do not get vaccinated will have to get monitored COVID-19 testing, paid for out of their own pocket. SHA staff have until early November to submit their proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Ontario The Ontario Medical Association issued a statement in July calling for all healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Ontario government announced a policy in August that states employers in healthcare must have their staff disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status. Unvaccinated staff must get regular COVID-19 testing. While the government did not formally impose a mandate, many hospitals in the province have a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. Fourteen hospitals in Ontario issued a joint statement saying that all employees, contractors, students and volunteers need to prove they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or undergo regular testing and attend education session. The hospital CEOs said that unvaccinated staff will eventually be fired or go on unpaid leave. On October 1, the government announced that all staff at long-term care homes must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 15, unless they have a valid medical exemption. Those who are not vaccinated (or medically exempt) by November 15 will not be admitted into the long-term care home to work. Read: We need to mobilize now: Alberta and Saskatchewan’s health systems at breaking point Quebec The Collège des Médecins du Québec announced in September that it supports mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers. The Federation of Specialist Physicians of Quebec and the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec also support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers. All Quebec physicians and other healthcare workers have until October 15 to show they are fully vaccinated. Otherwise, they will be re-assigned to other duties or, f this is not possible or they refuse, they will be put on unpaid leave. Read: Coughing kids headed to Montreal ERs but not for COVID-19 New Brunswick The New Brunswick Medical Society supported the Canadian Medical Association’s call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers. On October 5, the government announced that all New Brunswick government employees of the healthcare system must be fully vaccinated by November 19. After that date, unvaccinated employees (without a medical exemption) “will be sent home without pay,” according to a government press release. Nova Scotia Doctors Nova Scotia endorsed the CMA’s call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers. In September, the government announced mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for employees of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, IWK Health Centre, and long-term care facilities. They must provide proof of vaccination (or valid medical exemption) by November 30 or be place on unpaid leave. Physicians who provide services to a certain community and health organizations must also provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Prince Edward Island While the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island has not officially endorsed mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers, it does recommend that physicians get vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they are medically exempt. The province has a vaccine or test program for front-line healthcare providers who have exposure to people who are at risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19 or who cannot get vaccinated. There are a maximum of three tests a week for unvaccinated people Newfoundland and Labrador On September 29 the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) called for mandatory vaccination for all healthcare workers. The government could impose a vaccine mandate on public sector employees, including healthcare workers, in the coming days, premier Andrew Furey said a press briefing on September 29. The province is in discussions with unions representing public sector employees, he said. Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut None of the territorial medical associations have made statements about mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers. None of the territories have imposed such a mandate. Read: Insuring your income? The ins and outs of disability insurance for physicians

COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health workers: a look at their implementation across the country

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