AHS to accept negative COVID-19 tests from unvaccinated workers at sites facing staff shortages
Alberta health-care workers who do not want to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as mandated by their employer will be allowed to submit negative tests instead, but only at facilities that would be short staffed without them.
Alberta Health Services president and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu estimated about 260 employees at 16 locations across the province would fit the criteria.
"I want to be clear, the testing option is temporary and will be limited in scope. Only clinical work locations deemed to be at significant risk of service disruptions due to staffing shortages resulting from unvaccinated staff will be part of the testing program," she emphasized while announcing the accommodation on Monday.
AHS staff were previously given until Nov. 30 to get vaccinated or be approved for an exemption.
Roughly four per cent of full-time and part-time employees, half a per cent of doctors, and one per cent of ICU staff are either not immunized against COVID-19 or have not submitted their vaccine status. Together, they total about 3,000 health-care workers.
Yiu said AHS has "done all that we can do to encourage them."
"We've reached out to provide evidence-based reasons to get the vaccine and have worked hard to answer any concerns and questions that have been raised. And we have stressed just how valuable the vaccine is in protecting those in our care," she told media.
"Unfortunately, there are a small number of areas within our health-care system where a lack of vaccination may impact patient care and this raises concerns for us all."
Health Minister Jason Copping directed AHS to make the change to its immunization policy.
"The number one priority must always be patient care and ensuring all Albertans, regardless of where they live, have access to the health services that they need. I do not want to see health services in any community reduced because staff are unable to work," he said Monday.
To bring in the new testing policy, AHS is extending the vaccine deadline to Dec. 13.
Those who are eligible but choose to not get vaccinated will need to provide a proof of a negative and privately paid negative PCR test no more than 48 hours before the start of their shift. If they provide a negative rapid test, they will not be able to work until the results are confirmed by a follow-up PCR test.
Those who are eligible but choose not to get vaccinated or submit tests will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence.
Employees at all other sites who are not granted an exemption and are still unvaccinated on Dec. 13 will also be placed on an unpaid leave of absence.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.