Health Minister reported the number of healthcare workers now off the job for failing to meet a new condition of their employment, vaccination against COVID-19. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

VAX RATES

Two per cent of Island Health care workers on unpaid leave after going unvaccinated

Oct 26, 2021 | 4:26 PM

NANAIMO — A key deadline for B.C. healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has come and gone.

Health minister Adrian Dix reported on Tuesday, Oct. 26, approximately two per cent, or 678 Island Health employees are on unpaid leave for not meeting a new condition of their employment.

The count includes anyone employed by the health authority for at least one day this year.

“This is a necessary step, but a solemn day because it has implications for those people their families and for patients and their families, but it is what all of us need to do together to support one another in the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Of the province’s over 126,000 healthcare workers, 119,627 are considered fully vaccinated with another 2,626 still on the job under some additional layers of protection due to their partial vaccination status.

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Dix said 4,090 workers are on unpaid leave province-wide with the highest rate in Interior Health (seven per cent, 1,369 people) and Northern Health (five per cent, 376 people).

All other health authorities recorded around two or three per cent of workers currently off the job.

“You can see it in the exceptional work that’s been done in vaccination, in emergency response, in primary care, in long-term care, our healthcare workers have been heroes in this campaign,” Dix added.

Those unvaccinated will remain off the job without pay until a week after the date of their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, around 82 per cent of Island Health residents are considered fully vaccinated with areas around Victoria, Nanaimo and Oceanside showing the highest uptake.

Island Health posted 58 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, including 31 from the central Vancouver Island region.

Active cases dropped to 451 with the central Island continuing to lead the way with 259 people currently diagnosed.

Across B.C., 457 new cases were confirmed with 4,829 now active, a drop of 277 from Monday.

Hospitals across the province have 390 patients currently admitted, including 155 in critical care wards.

Public health also recorded two additional deaths directly linked to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

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