The general public will be exempt from the Town of Ladysmith's vaccination requirement policy if they wish to visit City Hall (pictured). (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

another vax mandate

Town of Ladysmith delays vaccine requirement policy until mid-March

Jan 13, 2022 | 7:01 PM

LADYSMITH — The Town of Ladysmith is planning to implement a COVID-19 vaccination policy for its staff, but it won’t be enacted until March 14.

CAO Allison McCarrick said we are in an ever-changing situation that most of us have never worked through before, and they wanted to assess how a vaccine policy would work in larger municipalities before introducing one of their own.

“At first and currently we implemented all of the PPE, close contact restrictions, hygiene measures, etc. and our staff were and still are well-protected. The mounting pressure on the health care system seemed to be ever pressing and so it was our time to bring this policy into effect; adding another layer of protection.”

McCarrick added they will assess the situation again before the implementation deadline and make any adjustments as needed, much like every other organization has had to do during this pandemic.

She said they also looked at the vaccine policies from Nanaimo and Parksville as models for their own, and the delay in implementing theirs will give those Town staff members who aren’t fully vaccinated time to do so.

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McCarrick also said this policy covers all employees, contractors and volunteers, but it does not apply to members of the general public who want to go into Town offices or the council chamber.

Mayor and council members are also not included in the vaccination policy.

Staff unable to provide proof of vaccination will be asked to complete regular rapid tests every 72 hours during their workweek and will continue as long as required.

She added staff members who remain unvaccinated after the March 14 deadline won’t face any change to their employment status.

“Our current supply (of tests) is provided by the Provincial Health Services Authority/BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). Employees will not pay for the cost of regular COVID-19 rapid antigen tests. “

She said they are confident they will have enough antigen tests for their employees for at least a year.

The BCCDC is making tests available to all local governments due to the essential service provided by employees.

The Town of Ladysmith employs 129 people across five divisions, and McCarrick estimates between 90-95 per cent of those employees are already fully vaccinated.

Also falling under the vaccination policy are contactors of the Town of Ladysmith and members of the public serving on committees of council which meet in-person.

The Town of Qualicum Beach is the lone local municipal government to not announce a vaccination policy for its employees.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow