COVID-19: British Columbia Nurses Fear Healthcare System May “Collapse” Due to Mandate for Vaccines for Workers | The Canadian News

The BC Nurses Union says BC’s health care system could collapse due to the mandate to vaccinate workers.

As of October 26, all healthcare workers in the province must be fully immunized against COVID-19 or receive an exemption from the provincial health official.

The nurses union says it has been pushing for nurses to get vaccinated, but those who choose not to do so should be required to take daily COVID-19 tests and wear additional personal protective equipment, rather than lose their job.

“Our health care system would collapse,” said BC Nurses Union Vice President Aman Grewal.

“The care that is being provided is going to impact because the resources are not there. That’s where the government should focus. “

There are more than 40,000 nurses in British Columbia. Neither the union nor the province have official vaccination rates, but estimates are between 90 and 95 percent.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the province did not make the decision lightly, but it was concluded that BC could no longer have a situation, given the severity of COVID-19 and its impact, where people works without vaccination.

“We are in a pandemic. It has very high risks in the field of health care. We have these very effective and safe vaccines. There is an expectation that everyone who works in the health system will be vaccinated. The level of risk in the health system justifies it, ”said Dix.

It is still unknown how many nurses will refuse to be vaccinated. Each waiver request will be reviewed individually.

“We will have to prepare for the circumstances in case people leave certain positions and that is why, in part, we have continued to add health workers in this pandemic,” said Dix.

The first face of the vaccine’s mandate will take effect on October 12, when all 49,000 long-term care and assisted living employees will need to be vaccinated.

Paramedics should also get vaccinated. BC Ambulance Paramedic Chief Troy Clifford says that about 95 percent of its 4,500 members have been vaccinated.

Clifford says they are concerned that staff is leaving and putting additional pressure on an already strained system. But the risks of not getting vaccinated are much higher.

“Paramedics who get sick and can’t go to work are worse for our system,” Clifford said.

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