COVID-19: ‘Solemn Day’ for British Columbia as Thousands of Healthcare Workers Challenge Vaccination Deadline

“It is so damaging and damaging to care when we have outbreaks in hospitals, as we have a couple right now. And that’s why we have this vaccine mandate in place, ”said Dr. Bonnie Henry.

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VICTORIA – BC’s health minister called Tuesday a “solemn day,” as 4,090 healthcare workers missed the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination deadline and were placed on unpaid leave before they could lose their job.

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That’s just over three percent of British Columbia’s 126,000 healthcare workers.

Adrian Dix said 1,369 of the unvaccinated workers are in the Interior region of the province and that overall vaccination rates are low in northern health as well.

“Health authorities are taking action across British Columbia to address the challenges this presents,” Dix said.

On the same day, BC announced a plan for all eligible residents ages 12 and older to receive booster shots by May as part of a program already underway for those most at risk of breakthrough infection.

Dix joined Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry in saying that the loss of unvaccinated workers in the health care system will put additional pressure on hospitals, especially as 67 seriously ill patients, most of them with COVID-19, have already been airlifted. the northern region to other areas of the province for your attention.

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“It is something immense. I can’t tell you the work that our ambulance teams, our nurses, everyone involved in the patient journey are doing, ”he said.

Henry said there is concern that groundbreaking infections could add further pressure to healthcare workers who have fulfilled the mandate to get vaccinated and it is essential that anyone working on the system is immunized to protect their colleagues and patients, as well as the communities.

“It is so damaging and damaging to care when we have outbreaks in hospitals, as we have a couple right now. And that’s why we have this vaccine mandate in place, ”he said.

Healthcare workers who remained unvaccinated Tuesday were given until Nov. 15 to receive their first dose unless they have a medical exemption, although Henry has said they would be rare.

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The deadline for long-term care workers to be vaccinated was Oct. 12, and Dix said that while more employees have been hired in that sector, hiring will be more challenging for jobs that require extensive training.

The BC Nurses Union said it could not provide an estimate of how many of its members are vaccinated. BC Physicians, the association that represents 15,000 physicians, said that about 97 percent of its workforce has been vaccinated.

'We appreciate the choice that people are making.  But the election comes with a consequence and right now the consequence is that he will not be able to work, ”said Troy Clifford, president of BC Ambulance Paramedics, CUPE Local 873.
‘We appreciate the choice that people are making. But with the election comes a consequence and right now the consequence is that he will not be able to work, ”said Troy Clifford, president of BC Ambulance Paramedics, CUPE Local 873. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

Troy Clifford, president of BC Ambulance Paramedics, CUPE Local 873, said that up to 200 of the 4,500 paramedics and dispatchers represented by the union had not reported their vaccination status or had chosen not to get vaccinated until about two weeks ago.

He said the union has tried to educate undecided members about the scientific reasons for vaccination and is struggling to understand the rationale for those who could lose their careers.

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“We appreciate the choice that people are making. But with the election comes a consequence and right now the consequence is that he won’t be able to work, ”Clifford said. “But the public has an expectation, I think, of frontline workers, and I think we have a duty to protect our patients and others.”

The province’s booster vaccination plan began last month with the most vulnerable people over 70, indigenous peoples in rural and remote communities, as well as front-line healthcare workers.

Henry said groups and people who are more immunosuppressed were vaccinated first and are reaching the point of weakening immunity. They are expected to be given priority until December before the general population is eligible for booster shots starting in January.

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“I believe this additional protection for our seniors and seniors who have been so affected by the pandemic will make an important difference in helping us get through this respiratory season, ensuring that we do not add an additional burden to our hospitals like influenza starting to show up as well.” .

Appointment reservations will be offered based on the time since the second dose, typically six to eight months, Henry said.

He added that British Columbia residents had longer intervals between the first and second doses, resulting in more durable and robust protection compared to programs in other jurisdictions, including the United States and Israel.

“They went with a very short interval, a three to four week interval between dose one and dose two. And our data and data from around the world has shown that that means that, over time, you get that early decline in immunity. We have also taken a different approach before many other Canadian provinces, ”he said.

“Very few people in long-term care in British Columbia received their first two doses in a shorter interval, unlike other provinces, particularly Alberta and Ontario.”

More than 84 percent of British Columbia residents age 12 and older have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The province reported 457 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and two more deaths.

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