It’s officially over.
BC Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has ended the COVID-19 public health emergency in British Columbia that was activated over four years ago.
This means any remaining restrictions, including the vaccination requirement for health-care workers, are being rescinded.
However, the Province is making it mandatory for health-care workers to disclose their immunization status, including COVID-19, influenza and measles vaccines.
“Collecting these records will allow for quick action to be taken in the event of an exposure, outbreak or future pandemic to ensure health-care workers who are not immune follow appropriate measures,” read a statement released by the province.
Depending on the circumstances, these could include masking, modified duties, or exclusion from work.
The mandatory reporting requirement comes into effect today, Friday, July 26th, and applies to health-care workers in health-authority-operated and contracted facilities, and includes doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, volunteers and contractors.
“We know that immunization works to help protect people from illness, including vaccines that protect against COVID-19,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer.
“It is the best tool we have to prevent diseases, like COVID-19, measles and others that can cause severe illness in the health-care setting. It protects health-care workers, their families and the vulnerable people we care for. I support government’s move to require the immune status of health-care workers to protect both patients and workers.”
All healthcare workers who lost their job because they did not comply with previous orders requiring COVID-19 immunization can apply and be hired for positions.
“Four and a half years ago, people throughout BC came together to keep each other safe through the COVID-19 pandemic, including our extraordinary health-care workers,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
“Health-care workers are strong supporters of vaccination and the vast majority have stepped up to get immunized and keep themselves and those they care for safe. By shifting to a new requirement for health-care workers to report their immune status for key vaccine preventable diseases including COVID-19, we are continuing to take actions that keep people safe, support a healthy workforce and a strong health-care system,” added Dix
In an update last week, there were fewer than 200 people in hospitals with a positive COVID test in BC.
BC was the last province with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the healthcare system.
