The BC Government announced Tuesday all public service workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 22. The move affects around 30,000 provincial employees. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

IMMUNIZATION PUSH

Full vaccination soon required to visit long-term or acute health care facilities

Oct 5, 2021 | 2:12 PM

NANAIMO — B.C. is ramping up its restrictions on non-essential activities for those who choose not to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Beginning Oct. 12, proof of full vaccination through the BC Vaccine Card will required to visit residents in long-term care facilities. Two weeks later, on Oct. 26, the same restrictions will apply to visits of acute care facilities in B.C.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during her weekly in-person briefing on COVID-19, the data clearly shows the effectiveness of vaccination in stemming transmission and preventing complications.

“Vaccination protects you from this serious illness. We are seeing very good protection, continued very strong protection, against severe illness from anybody who’s been immunized. So it is not just altruistic, it’s not just to protect our family and our friends but it protects you.”

Restriction do not apply to people needing to access those facilities, such as hospitals, for a medical purpose and are limited to non-essential visits of patients or residents.

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The move mirrors pending requirements for workers in long-term care to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment come Oct. 13. Other healthcare workers must have two doses by Oct. 26.

Henry said anyone remaining unvaccinated will be sent home without pay. If they choose to receive the vaccination after, they will be able to return to work seven days after receiving their dose with additional precautions.

Some medical exemptions are being made on a case-by-case basis.

Public health officials are also working with counterparts across the country and at the federal level to create a single, internationally recognized vaccine passport to permit travel to other countries.

One of many issues preventing travel for some in the future is acceptance of the AstraZeneca vaccine in other countries, namely the United States.

“For those who have taken AstraZeneca, who’ve taken the vaccine that was offered to you at the first opportunity, you did the right thing and I thank you for doing that,” Dr. Henry said. “It has made a tremendous difference in transmission of virus and in protecting both yourself, your family and your community.”

B.C. is sharing its data with federal officials on the effectiveness of AstraZeneca when combined with mRNA vaccines such as Moderna or AstraZeneca.

Earlier Tuesday, the province announced it would require its 30,000 public service employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 22.

Accommodations to those who are medically unable to be vaccinated will be made with details announced at a later date.

The move affects BC Public Service Agency workers in core government or ministry roles.

In mid-September, the province also made double vaccination a condition of employment for all health care workers in the province, effective Oct. 26.

It was an extension of a previous mandate in August which was limited to long term or assisted living care workers.

Dr. Henry also announced around 100,000 people will be invited to receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, as a booster, due to conditions or treatments which limit their immunoresponse.

Those included will be people who received treatment for tumours, cancers and other disorders which limit the immune system from March 2020.

Notifications for those affected will go out later in the week, with more information on who is included available on the BC CDC website.

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