B.C. bringing in vaccine mandate for all remaining health-care workers

COVID-19, the province is finally implementing the policy.Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced on Wednesday family doctors, dentists, chiropractors, physiotherapists and pharmacists will be required to be vaccinated by March 24, 2022.Henry said there is a process in place for medical exemptions, which can be submitted to her office.“We have been working with the colleges to sort through the details on the notice we put forward in October.

It is about creating a standard,” Henry said.Health-care workers in acute care and in long-term care are already required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

There is fewer than 3,000 workers province-wide who refused to get vaccinated and were fired due to that decision.“I think this is a really important measure and has been one of the most important measures that have allowed us to get through the Omicron wave,” Henry added.“We are getting through this pandemic, but are not through it yet.”The delay has taken place due to “complications’ working with the various colleges overseeing the professions.”Most colleges have expressed support for extending the mandate but B.C.’s chiropractors have had some concerns internally.In December, 78 per cent of delegates at the B.C.

College of Chiropractors annual general meeting voted to oppose the provincial vaccine mandate.The non-binding resolution, submitted by Kelowna chiropractor Mark Foullong, called on the college to “take a stand to protect the right to medical freedom of choice” and “maintain the right to choose medical privacy … free of coercion, manipulation of mandates.”Following the AGM, the B.C.